Expert

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a highly contagious  viral infection that has lately been in news as it rears its head in Buldhana, Maharashtra.

Once found only in Africa and the Middle East, lumpy skin disease (LSD) has predominantly been found in Eurasia of late. When the virus was first investigated in South Africa in the 1940s, scientists found it could spread mainly through the bites of infected vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. Direct contact with infected animals or contaminated feed and water may also cause an infection. Jayanth PN, a Veterinarian based in Bengaluru, says the disease is caused by the Capripox virus, the and is classified as transboundary animal disease which essentially means it is capable of spreading far and wide across countries and regions within no span of time.

According to Jayanth, following warning indicators should be watched out for by farmers and livestock keepers:

• Don't let healthy and infected animals use the same equipment.
• Make sure your pet receives routine veterinary examinations and report any questionable symptoms right away.

An entire herd's productivity can be affected by a single infected animal. Farmers are advised to take this warning seriously because LSD can result in long-term health problems, reproductive failure, and losses in milk production. Prevention is important for livelihood security as well as livestock protection, particularly in rural and agrarian communities. The experts strongly insist on administering Biolumpivaxin vaccine to all eligible animals at the earliest. Farmers need to be vigilant, report symptoms as soon as they appear, and take precautionary measures. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the disease could infect or affect humans.