Karnal, August 7
Several animals, particularly cattle, are showing symptoms of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in the district.
The Animal Husbandry Department has claimed that only 15 cases have been reported so far, but sources said the number was higher than the reported.
“The cases are pouring in every day. Trend says that mainly cows are getting infected with the virus and buffaloes have a marginal infection rate,” a veterinary expert said, adding that the number could get higher in the coming days.
Meanwhile, no death has been reported due to this virus in the district, but the disease spread among bovine, livestock farmers are a worried lot as they are suffering losses.
“My two cows have been infected with this virus and I am worried about the health of the remaining cattle at my farm. I have isolated the infected cattle and started their treatment,” said a farmer.
Dr Dharmendra Kumar, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, said 15 cases had been detected in the district. An advisory has been issued to the farmers.
“The farmers should start the treatment of the infected cattle after they show symptoms like fever, discharge from eyes and nose, salivation from mouth, soft blisters like nodules on body, drop in milk production and reduction in feed intake,” he said, adding that “it is a contagious disease and spreads easily through mosquito, ticks and flies”.
He further said dairy farmers need not panic and should abide by the recommendations of the department to keep the animals hygienic. Dr Kumar advised the farmers to sanitise livestock sheds by eliminating vector by spraying insecticides and disinfectants. “They must use mosquito net for the safety of animals.”
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