LUMPY SKIN DISEASE (LSD)
Source: indianexpress
Context:
Over the last few weeks, more than 3,000 cattle have died in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab due to a viral infection called Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
About the LSD
According to a report by GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation), lumpy skin disease is caused by a virus called capripoxvirus, which is an emerging threat to livestock worldwide.
It is genetically related to the Goatfox and Sheepfox virus family
- LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood-feeding insects
- Signs of an infection include the appearance of circular, firm nodes on the animal hide or skin that looks similar to lumps
- Infected animals start losing weight and may have fever and lesions in the mouth along with a reduced milk yield
- Other symptoms include excessive nasal and salivary secretion
Previous Outbreaks
- The disease has been endemic in African Countries. But since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the middle east, southeast Europe and West and Central Asia
- Since 2019, several outbreaks of LSD have been reported in Asia, in this year Pakistan's Punjab also reported deaths of over 300 cows due to LSD
- In September 2020, a strain of the virus was discovered in Maharashtra, and Gujarat too has reported cases over the last few years Sporadically (irregular intervals)
- The number of deaths are being the biggest concern at this point
Risk to HumansThe disease is not Zoonotic-Doesn't spread from animals to humans
However, milk produced by infected animals is to be boiled before consuming by humans
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