Muhammad Luqman

Alarmed by the spread of the fatal Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in Sindh during the post-monsoon period, the Punjab Livestock Department has expedited animal vaccination efforts to prevent a similar situation in Punjab.

LSD is a viral infection caused by a contagious virus that affects farm animals, including buffaloes and cattle.

“On the identification of LSD in any district of the province, we immediately carry out ring vaccination to contain and check the spread of the disease,” Haider Ali Khan, Director of Punjab Livestock Department, told Wealth Pakistan. He said the incidence of LSD in Punjab is currently below 1%.

“The Punjab Livestock Department has ample vaccine stocks. Despite the rare incidence of the disease at present, we are not showing any complacency,” he said. Khan said Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Lahore, has produced a vaccine that has proven very effective in combating the disease.

He further noted that the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) had developed an Android app called “Animal Disease Intimation by Farmer”, enabling farmers to report animal diseases directly to the department for timely action and surveillance. “This app has been very helpful in tackling animal diseases in Punjab in a timely manner,” the official said.

Haider Ali Khan said mosquitoes, houseflies, and ticks are the primary carriers of LSD from one animal to another. Farmers, he said, can reduce the risk of spread by eradicating these insects. He said anti-tick spray was also being carried out in the livestock markets throughout Punjab and at inter-provincial check posts to control transmission.

According to livestock experts, LSD was first detected in Zambia in 1929 and emerged in Pakistan in November 2021, causing widespread damage to the livestock sector in 2022. In Punjab alone, more than 62,000 animals were infected, resulting in the death of 4,656 cattle and heavy financial losses for dairy farmers.

“Over the last four years, LSD has been affecting livestock in Pakistan, especially in Sindh and Punjab, which calls for a permanent solution,” said Dr. Wasi Muhammad Khan, livestock expert and member of the Punjab Agriculture Research Board (PARB).

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, Dr. Khan said LSD has had severe economic implications for Pakistan by reducing milk production and damaging hides. He said Pakistan should endeavor to seek international cooperation to combat the disease.

“Global bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) should be involved in finding a permanent solution. FAO previously helped Pakistan tackle Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and can provide financial and technical assistance for LSD as well,” he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk