CURRENT CONTEXT: Over 900 cattle have been infected with Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in Pune district of Maharashtra.

 ABOUT LUMPY SKIN DISEASE:

• Cause: LSD is a viral disease affecting cattle and buffaloes. It is not transmissible to humans.
• Transmission: Spread through mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and partly through contaminated feed or water.
• Symptoms: Infected animals show fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and multiple skin nodules. It leads to reduced milk production and can be fatal.

 

CONTROL MEASURES & SIGNIFICANCE:

Vaccination: The indigenous Lumpi‑ProVacInd vaccine, developed in 2022, is safe and effective.

• Strategy: Involves ring vaccination within a 5 km radius, vector control, public awareness, and restriction of animal movement.