Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has launched a free of cost vaccination campaign to prevent a second possible wave of lumpy skin in animals. Speaking on the occasion, he said that government has provided a grant of one and a half billion rupees for Lumpy Skin Vaccination. He said that there are more than five million cattle in Punjab and 6 million doses are available in province. He said that Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department is providing 200 million doses of vaccines for various diseases free of cost across the province to keep animals healthier. It was worth mentioned here that Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle.

It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever, nodules on the skin and can also lead to death, especially in animals that that have not previously been exposed to the virus. Control options include vaccinations and culling of infected animals. The disease is present in many African countries. In 2012, it spread from the Middle East to south-east Europe, affecting EU Member States (Greece and Bulgaria) and several other countries in the Balkans. A vaccination programme has since halted the epidemic in south-east Europe.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP