Gurugram: 93 cattle die of Lumpy Skin Disease, 890 infections found

As many as 93 cattle have died after being infected by the lumpy virus in Gurugram, while 890 cases of the infectious disease have been found among cattle in Gurugram, Sohna and Pataudi areas, district's animal husbandry department informed.

Officials informed that although Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is rapidly spreading, it is not transmitted to human being either from animals or through cow milk.

Dr Punita Gahlawat, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, however, informed that one-third of cases of the lumpy virus disease has been cured and around 71,000 cattle in Gurugram have been vaccinated to protect against the virus.

Gahlawat appealed to owners to isolate cattle showing symptoms of the lumpy virus, which may include high fever, reduced milk production, skin nodules, loss of appetite, increased nasal discharge and watery eyes, among others.

"In Gurugram, the number of cases is low and manageable. We have responded promptly and taken all the necessary steps to curb the spread of the disease," she said.

Lumpy skin disease is a contagious viral disease that spreads among cattle through mosquitoes, flies, lice and wasps by direct contact, as also through contaminated food and water. The disease causes fever and nodules on the skin, and it can be fatal.

She said necessary steps are being taken by the state's Animal Husbandry Department to curb the virus and to save the cattle from the deadly virus.

"We have issued directions to the concerned daily owners and others to take necessary precautions to save animals from the affected cattle and if they suspect any cattle suffered from the virus, report the matter to the department. We have boosted vaccinations efforts where cases of the virus came to the fore," she added.