INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
DHANGADI, JULY 3Lumpy Skin Disease has rapidly spread throughout Sudurpaschim Province, causing the death of
approximately 11,000 animals
The outbreak has affected all nine districts, with Doti, Achham, and Bajhang being the most impacted areas, particularly those along the
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The Livestock Disease Research Laboratory in Dhangadi confirmed that Sudurpaschim Province had witnessed higher number of
infected animals compared to other provinces
Currently, out of the 298,000 infected animals in the province, more than 10,900 have succumbed to the disease.Around 12.7 per cent of the
total population of 1,582,000 cows and buffaloes in the province have been infected.
This includes 79,188 cows, 77,471
bulls, 39,888 calves, and 5,051 buffaloes.The disease manifests through symptoms such as formation of small and large lumps on various parts
of the animal's body, along with high fever, swollen eyes, drooping ears, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and foaming from the mouth
Dairy production in lactating cows and buffaloes can decrease by up to 80 per cent resulting in significant financial losses for
farmers.Proper management of sheds, cleanliness, and regular vaccination are recommended by veterinarians to control the disease.Due to
absence of a specific treatment method, management of infected animals relies on addressing their symptoms
The doctor in charge of the Livestock Disease Research Laboratory in Dhangadi emphasied the need for local authorities to allocate budget
for disease control since it has reached epidemic proportions in the province.Hemraj Awasthi, the chief doctor of the Regional Livestock
Training Centre in Dhangadi, reported that many farmers have suffered loss due to the disease-related deaths of their cows and oxen,
impacting those dependent on dairy farming and cattle raising.The Department of Livestock Services advises separating infected cows and
buffaloes from the herd and providing rest, clean water, and appropriate medication, such as Paracetamol or Meloxicam, to alleviate fever.To
minimie disease spread, infected and uninfected areas should be kept separate, wounds should be cleaned, and antiseptic ointment should be
applied to affected areas
Animals with numerous lumps may require antibiotic injections, as recommended by experts.A version of this article appears in the print on
July 4, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
