Team Herald
PANJIM: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Minister Nilkant Halarnkar on Tuesday said that as many as 32 cases of lumpy skin disease have been identified among cattle in the State.
Halarnkar said that five samples which were sent to the Western Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Pune have been detected taking the total number of cases to 32. The sick animals are kept in isolation centre near Goshala at Sikeri, Mayem till they recover,
he added.
Halarnkar said that as on date, 22,000 cattle have been vaccinated and the State has now sought 22,000 more vaccines from the Central government.
Goa has banned transportation of cattle from outside the State by all, except by one notified vendor, in view of the disease. Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Veena Kumar has been appointed as nodal officer to ensure that all the animals with the disease are identified and treated appropriately, he said.
The Minister urged citizens and NGOs to inform the department about any case of lumpy skin disease in their vicinity. He said that the department even acts on Whatsapp messages sent by citizens. Upon receiving the information, cattle are picked up from the place where they are, taken to the isolation centre and given necessary treatment, he said.
Halarnkar lamented that the village panchayats and municipal councils are not taking as much responsibility as they should as regards stray cattle menace despite allocation of funds by the department. Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Agostinho Misquita was also present.
