Delhi Starts Lumpy Skin Disease Vaccination to Stop the Disease From Spreading

Several state governments are currently trying various methods to stop the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease in livestock, which has already claimed the lives of over 70,000 cattle. In order to protect the cattle and stop the disease from spreading, the Delhi Government on Monday decided to start offering free vaccinations for healthy animals.

In the nation's capital, the disease has infected 571 animals. According to an official of the animal husbandry department, "We have purchased 25,000 doses of the goat pox vaccine from Indian Immunological Limited and have started vaccinating healthy cattle in Delhi today."

In the Union Territory, there are currently 296 active cases, while 275 animals have recovered from the deadly illness. "These doses will be given out without cost. The vaccination drive will be completed in about a week,” added the official.

The official also discussed the ring vaccination approach, in which healthy cattle will be vaccinated five kilometers away from affected cattle.

The majority of the cases are coming from Southwest Delhi's Goyla dairy sector, Rewla Khanpur area, Ghumanhera, and Najafgarh, where no animal deaths have been reported thus far.

The Delhi government has established 11 rapid reaction teams, along with four mobile veterinary clinics, to gather samples. Four groups are educating the public about the virus. For questions about diseases, the city government has also set up a separate control room with the helpline number 8287848586.

Additionally, a separate ward has been created in southwest Delhi's Rewla Khanpur Gau Sadan to house stray animals suffering from lumpy skin disease. The infectious viral disease lumpy skin disease affects cattle and results in fever, skin nodules, and death.

The disease is spread by mosquitoes, flies, lice, and wasps through direct contact with cattle as well as tainted food and water. In July 2019, the illness spread to China, Bangladesh, and India. The "goat-pox" vaccination, which is currently being used in India to prevent the virus, is proving to be 100 percent successful, according to experts from the health ministry.