Chandigarh
The Department of Animal Husbandry completed 3rd round of Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle of Chandigarh. The Lumpy Skin is a contagious, epizootic disease caused by the Capri pox virus, which spreads and most prevalent among cattle. The capripox virus genus consists of LSDV, as well as sheep pox virus, and goat pox virus.
On this occasion, Sh. Hari Kallikkat, Secretary Animal Husbandry, intimated that department has administered 9000 vaccination doses free of cost in cattle population. The department has been successfully able to combat the Lumpy Skin in cattle since 2023 due to effective Sero & Physical monitoring in Chandigarh. He said that till date three rounds of LSD vaccination has been completed and 25641 vaccines has been administrated against the disease. He added that strict implementation of advisories, bio-security measures and movement restriction and isolation of affected animals are followed in true spirit. Every type of assistance has been provided to Livestock owners i.e. treatment of animals and control of disease to avoid further spread of disease. The department has issued Advisory to all livestock owners and MC Gaushalas for taking all preventive measures. The Gaushalas has been issued 2000 doses of vaccine free of cost to administer to their cattle population.
Director Animal Husbandry, Sh. Paviter Singh urged the livestock owners to report to the nearest veterinary hospital immediately on unusual mortality and sickness in cattle. He further stated that owners are being educated through awareness camps however there is no specific treatment for LSD. The current preventive measure includes vaccination, movement control of bovine animals and quarantining, implementing biosecurity through vector control. It is worth mentioning that all neighbouring states Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh were severely affected by Lumpy Skin Disease which resulted in huge mortality of cattle and financial loss to livestock owners. In the contrary Chandigarh remains LSD free till date.
Joint Director Animal Husbandry apprised that livestock owners have been educated regarding bio-security measures as isolation of sick animals from the healthy animals, feeding of affected animals with liquid & soft feed, and green fodder to their animals. They have also been advised to use dis-infections in premises at regular intervals for cleanliness and hygiene and to apply Ecto-parasiticide to healthy animals.
