Lumpy skin disease: Cattle trade banned in Mysuru till January 10

MYSURU: With lumpy skin disease (LSD) causing cattle deaths, the Mysuru district administration has prohibited cattle trade in the weekly markets. It has also restricted the interstate movement of cattle until January 10. The order, which took effect on December 10, was issued by deputy commissioner KV Rajendra to prevent the spread of the disease.
As Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Ramanagar are witnessing a surge in cases, the district administration has taken tough measures to prevent the spread of this disease as it is fatal to cows and buffaloes.
As many as 2,819 cows have been infested with this disease in Mysuru district since March. Out of this 2,320 cows have recovered and the rest are being treated. As many as 121 cows died from this disease in the district in the first week of December. The highest number of 39 deaths were reported in Saragur taluk which shares an interstate border with Kerala as well as forest area.
To prevent further spread of the disease, the district administration has imposed a ban on cattle trade and interstate and inter-district movement of cattle and buffaloes till January 10, deputy director of animal husbandry and veterinary sciences Dr Shadaksharappa told STOI.
He said LSD is transmitted by blood-feeding insects such as mosquitoes and flies. The disease causes fever, nodules on the skin. It can also lead to death of the infected cattle. Mosquitoes, flies, lice, and wasps spread the disease through direct contact with cattle as well as contaminated food and water.
Mysuru district has 5.2 lakh livestock population with 3.3 lakh cattle heads, he said. “Though the district administration has restricted cattle trade, interstate and inter-district movement of cows and cattle to prevent the spread of the disease, it should also provide immunity booster tablets and medicines to the affected animals to help farmers. It must also intensify measures to vaccinate the cows from the disease,” Mysuru- Chamarajanagar Karnataka Farmers Federation secretary Baradanapura Nagaraj told STOI.