In news: The Bihar government recently issued an advisory about the likely spread of lumpy skin disease (LSD).
About the disease-
- Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a disease of cattle and buffalo caused by a capripox virus.
- Since 2012, LSD has spread from Africa and the Middle East into South-eastern Europe and several other countries in the Balkans.
- LSD was first reported in Asia and the Pacific region in 2019 in north west China, Bangladesh and India.
- It is believed that arthropod vectors, direct contact, contaminated feed and water and iatrogenic means (for example, repeated use of needles on different animals) can spread the disease.
- The World Organisation for Animal Health is encouraging members in at-risk areas to initiate vaccination campaigns ahead of virus entry and to continue timely reporting of all outbreaks.
- The virus is present in high concentrations in the skin nodules and scabs on affected animals and can be isolated from blood, saliva, ocular and nasal discharges and semen.
- The incubation period is between 4 and 14 days post-infection.
- The nodules may become necrotic and ulcerate, leading to an increased risk of flystrike.
- Management of lumpy skin disease relies on vaccination, control of animal movements and culling infected animals.
Source: DTE
