Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Centre along with states is making efforts to control Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle.

Many states are grappling with Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle and the disease has emerged as a concern for the dairy sector.

“Our scientists have also prepared indigenous vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease,” Modi said addressing the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022, being organised at India Expo Centre & Mart here.

In the recent past, there has been loss of livestock in many states of India due to the disease, he added.

LSD is a contagious viral disease that affects cattle and causes fever, reduced milk production, skin nodules, loss of appetite, increased nasal discharge and watery eyes, and can also lead to death. The disease gets spread by mosquitoes, flies, lice, and wasps by direct contact among the cattle, and through contaminated food and water.

According to the Centre, the disease has spread in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh and more than 57,000 cattle have died due to it.

On 10 September, the Delhi government reported cases of lumpy virus in the capital for the first time. At least 173 cases of lumpy virus had been found among cattle in Delhi, mostly in the southwest district, and no death has been reported so far, authorities said Saturday.

Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) reported on 11 September 2022 that milk collection across Rajasthan is estimated to have reduced by 3 to 4 lakh litre per day after the onset of LSD among cattle. According to the Rajasthan Animal Husbandry Department, the disease has so far led to death of 49,057 cattle in Rajasthan.

On 11 September, Jharkhand animal husbandry department expressed concern over the infection. An advisory has been issued to all 24 districts and asking for samples, if any such case of lumpy skin disease is reported in their respective areas.

On 8 September, the Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday urged the Centre to declare lumpy skin disease an epidemic so that farmers who have lost their cattle to the viral infection can be provided financial assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund.