LSD hits Kupwara with death of 100 cattle, 1500 infections

KUPWARA — Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is rapidly affecting north Kashmir’s Kupwara district with more than 1500 infected in the district.

Details collected by the news agency KNO suggest that above a hundred cattle have so far died due to the disease while more than 1500 are infected. Also, about 4000 have been vaccinated.

Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks.

KNO has learnt that a forest belt nearby to Gulgam area in the district has turned the hotspot of the disease as the dead animals affected by the disease are being dumped there. There is a stench for about one kilometre while people are not able to walk from there, they said, adding that the authorities should take measures so that it cannot spread further.

Meanwhile, locals said that the outbreak has triggered devastating losses for cattle farmers since the disease not only results in deaths but also leads to decreased milk production. “If the authorities concerned do not take immediate steps, a large number of cattle may be killed by the disease,” Abdul Rasheed, a local said, adding that the concerned department should pay special attention to the matter.

An official said that the situation in Karnah is under control because of the vaccination process. “So far, most of the cases have been reported in Karnah area where the department has sent multiple teams already and they are working hard to prevent the disease further among cattle,” he said, adding that they have already issued advisories to farmers related to prevention and care of infected animals.

Giving details, he said that around 70 cattle have died so far across the district while at least a thousand have been affected. “Around 40 thousand animals have been vaccinated,” he said.

The official advised farmers to dig at least 10 feet deep pits for burying the carcasses of animals that died due to the disease following which fogging and spraying of particular disinfectants and proper sanitisation should be done.

Earlier, the Directorate of Extension S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar issued an advisory against disease and appealed to people to remain cautious.

“Since the disease can spread through vector bites, insect breeding places like stagnant water and manure pits need to be properly managed,” it said, adding that observe the animals for common symptoms of the disease like high fever, nodules on the skin, mucous membranes, anorexia/off feed, emaciation, drop in milk yield, enlarged lymph nodes, oedema of the skin, salivation, ocular and nasal discharge, conjunctivitis.

The SKUAST also advised people that if any or all of the above symptoms are noticed, immediately isolate the animal as the disease may spread to other animals through vector bites like mosquitoes, flies, ticks besides contact with infected material like nodules, saliva, blood, ocular/nasal discharge and call for veterinary assistance for vaccination and treatment.