Daijiworld Media Network - Faridkot
Faridkot, Nov 1: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has resurfaced in Punjab's Faridkot district after nearly four years, triggering concern among dairy farmers and raising questions over the effectiveness of a vaccination drive conducted by the Animal Husbandry Department around three months ago.
Several cases have been reported from villages across the district, with multiple cattle infected in individual households and gaushalas. Farmers have expressed concern over the spread of the disease despite vaccination, while allegations of lapses in maintaining the mandatory cold chain for vaccine storage and transportation have put the department's arrangements under scrutiny.
Among the reported cases, Jatinder Singh of Arianwala village has three infected animals, while Bohar Singh of Ratti Rori village has reported two cases. Cattle belonging to Bauhar Singh and Bhola Singh in Bazigar Basti have also contracted the disease. Balwant Singh of Machaki Khurd village has reported infections among his animals.
Cases have also emerged from gaushalas in Faridkot and Golewala, besides villages including Chameli, Bhana, Nathewala and Chahal. Gagan Singh of Nathewala village has reported two infected animals, while two cattle deaths have been reported from the Nangal area.
The situation at the Golewala gaushala is particularly concerning. The facility houses around 380 animals but is managed by just four daily-wage workers. Although the gaushala has 25 acres of land, including 15 acres earmarked for green fodder cultivation, an alleged shortage of seeds, fertilisers and manpower has affected fodder production.
Consequently, the gaushala continues to face a shortage of green fodder and depends largely on wheat husk donated by nearby farmers. The large animal population and limited workforce have also raised concerns over disease monitoring, isolation of infected cattle and the possibility of further transmission.
The fresh outbreak despite the recent vaccination campaign has brought vaccine handling practices under scrutiny. A department insider said maintaining the prescribed cold chain during storage and transportation was essential to preserve vaccine potency but alleged that proper temperature control had not always been ensured.
However, the exact reasons behind the outbreak and whether improper vaccine storage contributed to the spread have not yet been established.
Young calves remain particularly vulnerable, as the LSD vaccine is not administered to calves below four months of age. Their exclusion from the vaccination programme makes disease containment more challenging in affected herds.
Dr Jaswinder Singh, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, acknowledged that several cases had been reported in the region. He said the department had conducted a vaccination drive around three months ago, but fresh infections were now emerging. Reports on the disease situation were being submitted to the state and Central governments for monitoring and necessary intervention, he added.
Lumpy skin disease is a viral infection affecting cattle. Symptoms include fever, characteristic skin nodules, watery eyes and increased nasal and salivary secretions. The disease can significantly reduce milk production and, in severe cases, cause serious complications and death.