Farmers Alarmed Over Lumpy Skin Disease

Anxiety has gripped cattle farmers and dairy owners in a number of rural areas of Jand tehsil after reports of lumpy skin disease among cows, calves and buffaloes.

Key points

• Cases have reportedly emerged in Pind Suktani, Aurangabad, Injra, Khattakabad, Kani, Mathail, Kotwali, Thatta and Chabb, where farmers say the number of affected animals has been rising steadily.
• Nevertheless, Deputy Director Livestock Development Dr Yasir Mustafa Butt rejected reports of an outbreak in Jand and described the situation as limited to isolated cases.
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• He asserted a vaccine dose was being sold for around Rs11, 000 at local veterinary stores, making it unaffordable for small livestock owners.

Livestock owners fear the virus could spread further unless authorities take effective preventive action.

Farmers alleged that despite the growing number of suspected cases, they were being forced to purchase costly vaccines from private veterinary medicine stores as government-supplied doses were not readily available. Diseases Emerge in Low-Lying Areas of Rawalpindi, Islamabad After Rain.

They additionally complained concerning subdued disease surveillance, limited field monitoring, inadequate vaccination efforts and poor public awareness campaigns by the Livestock Department.

For context, the farmers pressed authorities to launch an immediate district-wide assessment to determine the actual extent of the disease and ensure timely vaccination and treatment.

Farmer Ahmed Khan remarked the disease appeared to spread through tick and mosquito bites, especially in stagnant water and unhygienic conditions. He remarked numerous small farmers, unable to afford private treatment, were relying on traditional remedies.

Another farmer, Haji Irshad, pressed urgent intervention to contain the disease and protect farmers from heavy economic losses.

Stakeholders demanded stronger field surveillance, accurate reporting of suspected cases, wider availability of vaccines and treatment facilities, and a proper awareness campaign for livestock owners. Scientists Create World's First Gene-Edited Allergy-Free Dogs.

According to Barani Livestock Production Research Institute Research Officer Asad Abbas Khan, lumpy skin disease causes painful nodules and swellings on the skin of cattle and can additionally lead to fever, loss of appetite and weakness.

He remarked the disease can sharply reduce milk production and damage the health and productivity of infected animals.

Talking to Dawn, he remarked the department's Disease Investigation Department had identified the affected locations and was informing residents through its mobile application and field vaccinators. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest news and stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

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For now, farmers Alarmed Over Lumpy Skin Disease remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.