Kanchanpur. Lumpy skin disease infection has been confirmed in a calf reared by a local farmer at Sisaiya of Shuklaphanta municipality-9.

A team led by senior veterinarian Naresh Prasad Joshi of the Livestock Research Laboratory, Dhangadhi, collected the sample after the calf showed symptoms of the disease. The collected samples were sent to the Central Veterinary Disease Investigation Laboratory for testing. Veterinary doctor Joshi said that the sample was tested through PCR method and it was confirmed to be lumpy skin.

According to Joshi, Lumpy Skin Disease was detected in the Sudurpaschim State only two years ago. This is the first time since then that the infection has been found again. Though only a calf of a cow has been diagnosed with the disease at present, no symptoms have been found in other animals including cows and buffaloes in the vicinity.

“Research is being carried out to find out from where the disease originated”, he said, adding, “This wave that was seen towards the end of last fiscal year has been seen again in the Sudurpaschim state”, senior veterinary doctor Joshi said, adding, “Around 1.3 million animals were infected with lumpy skin disease and around 50,000 animals died in 2080 BS”. ’

Senior veterinary doctor Joshi said that the vaccine against lumpy skin has been administered very little in the far-western state and there is a challenge of widespread spread of the disease as it is going on in the rainy season. According to him, although vaccination is the most effective method, the disease could take a severe form like in 2080 BS as there is no stock in the state at present.

“Animals with lumpy skin disease should be kept away immediately,” he said, adding that attention should be paid to cleanliness around the cowshed, the vectors of diseases like insects and mosquitoes should be controlled, precautions should be taken while touching infected animals or entering the sheds. ’

According to him, the disease usually causes lumps all over the body, high fever (104 degrees Fahrenheit or more) around the eyes, nose and mouth, lumps of 10 to 50 millimeters in various parts of the body, especially around the neck, back, abdomen and snout, milk production up to 80 percent, diarrhea, horn run, excessive foam and swollen lymph nodes.

According to Ram Prasad Bhatta, chief of the Livestock Development Section of Shuklaphanta Municipality, Lumpy skin disease was found in cows reared by farmers of Kalagaundi ward no 12 four years ago. After that, the disease was found again in Ward No. 9 Sisaiya. “We have warned the farmers not to tie the infected cows with other animals”, he said, adding, “We have advised the infected cows to isolate them”. ’