139 animals die of lumpy skin in Koshi, Madhesh also affected

By Shashidhar Parajuli, Biratnagar, July 16: About 139 cattle died of lumpy skin disease in Koshi Province in a week. 

Of them, 136 were cows, mostly calves, as confirmed by Directorate of Livestock and Fishery Development, Koshi Province. This time, calves have been found to be more affected by lumpy skin diseases. 

According to the Directorate, more than 336 animals have died since the infection started this year, and of them 330 cows. This week alone, 3,778 animals in 10 districts of Koshi Province were infected with lumpy skin disease. 

In the two months since the infection started, 16,519 animals, including 136 buffaloes have been infected, said Dr. Susheel Kumar Adhikari, chief of Directorate of Livestock and Fishery Development, Koshi Province.

He said that this time, more claves than cows have been infected by the disease. 

Lumpy skin diseases, however, has not been reported from Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Sankhuwasabha and Terhathum districts. The disease has spread in the remaining 10 districts, with the highest number of infections in Jhapa. According to the data of Directorate of Livestock and Fishery Development, Koshi Province, 4,024 animals have been infected in Jhapa district. Out of these, 3,999 are cows and 25 are buffaloes. About 112 animals have died of this disease in Jhapa, including 105 cows and seven buffaloes. 

Similarly, more than 8,385 animals have been vaccinated in Jhapa to control the infection. In Sunsari district, there are 4,000 infected animals. Of them, 3,984 are cows and calves, and 16 are buffaloes. About 71 animals have died in Sunsari, including 68 cows and three buffaloes.  According to the directorate, 11,481 animals in Sunsari have been vaccinated.

In Morang district, 3,716 animals, including 3,704 cows and 12 buffaloes, have been infected from LSD. About 64 animals including 63 cows and one buffalo have died in Morang. A total of 11,604 animals have been vaccinated in the district.

Among the districts with the least infection, 425 animals have been infected in Udayapur. Of these, 410 are cows and 15 are buffaloes. Eight animals have died in Udayapur and 4,447 animals have been vaccinated. In Ilam, 396 animals have been infected, including 381 cows and 15 buffaloes. 

According to the directorate, five animals have died in Ilam and 5,376 animals have been vaccinated.  A total of 376 animals have been infected with seven deaths in Bhojpur. The government has made efforts to control the spread of the disease by vaccinating 56,071 animals against lumpy skin disease in Koshi Province this week. 

This year, 262,609 animals in Koshi Province have been vaccinated, said Adhikari.

The infection is more in the districts of the Tarai region, while the infection is comparatively less in the hilly districts. 

Adhikari suggested that farmers should take special precautions as the disease is more prevalent among calves. In Madhes also the disease has affected animals.

According to our Sarlahi correspondent Janarjan Khatri, lumpy skin disease has spread in Lalbandi Municipality for a last one month. By Tuesday, two cows, one each in Ward Nos. 7 and 17, died, according to veterinary department of the municipality.

In six wards of the municipality, 18 cows and calves are infected with the disease, said veterinary department head Dr. Bimal Shrestha. He said all 18 animals were receiving treatment. 

After the disease started spreading, the Veterinary Hospital has provided 1,000 vials of vaccines to the municipality.