Context:
Cattle herders in western Rajasthan have suffered heavy losses due to an outbreak of the contagious Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
Relevance:
GS-II: Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- Key Points
- About Lumpy Skin Disease
Key Points:
- Hundreds of cattle have died from infection, according to data from the state animal husbandary department.
- The state’s dairy sector has also been badly affected.
- The LSD outbreak also poses a threat to Rajasthan’s position as a stronghold of cattle and livestock populations.
- The state had 56 million livestock according to the 20th Livestock Census.
- Western Rajasthan is witnessing an LSD outbreak for the first time. The area is home to community-owned livestock.
About Lumpy Skin Disease:
- Lumpy skin disease is a viral infection of cattle.
- It is an infectious, eruptive, occasionally fatal disease of cattle characterized by nodules on the skin and other parts of the body.
- Secondary bacterial infection often aggravates the condition.
- Its incidence is highest in wet summer weather, but it may occur in winter.
- It is most prevalent along water courses and on low ground.
- History:
- Traditionally, lumpy skin disease is found in southern and eastern Africa, but in the 1970s it extended northwest through the continent into sub-Saharan west Africa.
- Since 2000, it has spread to several countries of the Middle East and in 2013 extended west into Turkey and several countries in the Balkans.
- Symptoms:
- Fever
- Lacrimation
- Hypersalivation, and
- Characteristic skin eruptions.
- The incubation period is 4–14 days.
- Treatment and Prevention:
- Attenuated virus vaccines may help control spread
- Administration of antibiotics to control secondary infection and good nursing care are recommended.
-Source: Down To Earth
