8 cases of lumpy skin disease in livestock reported

Team Herald 

PANJIM: The State has reported eight positive cases of lumpy skin disease in livestock. Director of Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Augustinho Mesquita said that of the total 15 suspected cases of lumpy skin disease, eight have been confirmed. 

“There are no deaths so far,” he said. 

He said that the maximum cases are from Ponda while a few cases have also been found in Bicholim Taluka. 

Mesquita said that the disease primarily spreads through ticks and biting flies.

He said that despite the ban, livestock is brought from other States without informing the department, which is one of the primary reasons for the spread of the disease in the State. Entry of livestock into North Goa from other States has already been prohibited by the State government to prevent the spread of the disease.  

The director said that he has been vaccinating livestock for the disease since 2019 and have started the vaccination drives afresh before Ganesh Chaturthi looking at the large-scale spread of the disease in other States namely Rajasthan. 

The disease has killed so far 70,000 cattle across India. 

Lumpy skin disease is a contagious viral disease that affects cattle and causes fever, skin nodules, and death. Mosquitoes, flies, lice, and wasps spread the disease through direct contact with cattle as well as contaminated food and water. The disease outbreak in India, Bangladesh and China in July 2019.