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- India is currently facing an outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) with around 6,584 active cases being monitored.
- Since July 2022, approximately 200,001 head of cattle have died due to the contagious nodular skin disease.
- In response to the outbreak, massive cattle vaccination efforts are underway, with more than 24.18 crore cattle and buffalo already vaccinated, and another 4.89 crore undergoing treatment.
In response to a question raised in the Parliament today, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala informed that the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, is aware of the outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in the country
The Department of Livestock and Dairy under the Ministry of Fisheries, Livestock and Dairy, Government of India is actively addressing the situation and has implemented various measures to control and contain the spread of the disease.
Sate wise Cattle vaccination and deaths since July 2022
| Sl.No. | State/UT | Cumulative deaths (till date) | Cumulative vaccination (till date) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gujarat | 6,193 | 6,319,005 |
| 2 | Punjab | 17,932 | 3,421,615 |
| 3 | Jammu & Kashmir | 2,698 | 1,964,241 |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 655 | 15,787,400 |
| 5 | Haryana | 2,938 | 1,736,348 |
| 6 | Goa | 2 | 21,895 |
| 7 | West Bengal | 0 | 2,600 |
| 8 | Delhi | 0 | 25,067 |
| 9 | Tamil Nadu | 1 | 121,700 |
| 10 | Jharkhand | 0 | 176,274 |
| 11 | Telangana | 70 | 3,206,369 |
| 12 | Chhattisgarh | 0 | 2,474 |
| 13 | Odisha | 114 | 4,752,000 |
| 14 | Andhra Pradesh | 277 | 1,42,326 |
| 15 | Meghalaya | 0 | 1,03,500 |
| 16 | Bihar | 4 | 13,666,392 |
| 17 | Himachal Pradesh | 11,515 | 1,064,474 |
| 18 | Karnataka | 31,810 | 17,547,173 |
| 19 | Kerala | 829 | 9,17,086 |
| 20 | Madhya Pradesh | 706 | 8,469,428 |
| 21 | Maharashtra | 46,104 | 14,399,028 |
| 22 | Uttarakhand | 1,257 | 1,286,278 |
| 23 | Sikkim | 834 | 62,502 |
| 24 | Rajasthan | 76,030 | 20,559,291 |
| 25 | Nagaland | 32 | 1,482 |
| TOTAL | 2,00,001 | 115755948 |
Lumpy Dermatosis Outbreak: Impact and Support
Up to the latest information available, Lumpy Dermatosis has been reported in the country, with 6,584 active cases under follow-up. To combat the outbreak, the Department has taken crucial steps, providing financial and technical assistance to states and Union Territories. This support is intended to help local authorities effectively control the disease and prevent further spread among livestock populations.
The minister revealed that since July 2022, around 200,001 head of cattle have succumbed to the contagious nodular skin disease. The economic impact of each loss is estimated at around Rs 30,000 per cattle, according to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) regulations. However, currently the department does not have any specific scheme to compensate ranchers for the loss of their cattle due to this disease.
Despite the lack of a centralized compensation scheme, some states have stepped up to support affected farmers and ranchers. For example, Maharashtra and Karnataka have taken steps to compensate those who have lost their livestock to LSD.
Minister Rupala clarified that the disease is not only being closely monitored but also being actively treated. The Department of Livestock and Dairy is implementing the Livestock Health and Disease Control Program (LHDCP), a Central Regional Scheme. As part of this programme, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations are being carried out in all states and union territories, including Gujarat.
Massive cattle vaccination efforts continue
During the latest round of vaccination, more than 24.18 crore of cattle and buffalo received treatment, and another 4.89 crore of cattle and buffalo have been vaccinated so far. These efforts are aimed at preventing the further spread of foot-and-mouth disease and other contagious diseases that could exacerbate existing challenges posed by contagious nodular skin disease.
Minister Rupala stressed that Animal Husbandry is a state issue, and the necessary medicines for the treatment of diseases are available in hospitals and veterinary clinics within the respective states and union territories. Although there is no central plan for providing drugs to states, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Production has developed treatment guidelines and distributed them to all states and union territories for the effective management of contagious nodular skin disease.
The treatment approach so far has involved the use of goat pox vaccines, which have shown promising results against the LSD virus. Consequently, financial assistance has been extended to states and union territories for the purchase of goat pox vaccines under the State Assistance for Animal Disease Control (ASCAD) program.
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