Lumpy skin disease: Govt to complete vaccination drive by Aug 31

Srinagar, July 14: The Animal Husbandry Department Kashmir has started vaccination against foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) and it targets to complete the vaccination before 31 August.
Director Animal Husbandry Department Kashmir, Purnima Mittal said the department aims for 100 percent vaccination against foot & mouth disease (FMD) within the next 45 days.
“Along with the FMD, we will simultaneously also ensure vaccination of lumpy skin disease (LSD) as the outbreak of the disease was witnessed last year. And vaccinations will be completed by 31 August,” she said.
The director said there are 9.60 lakh animals in Kashmir that would be vaccinated and cattle, buffaloes will be covered under the vaccination drive.
“We have started the vaccination on a mission mode. This is the season and there may be chances of FMD and LSD. Timely vaccinations are a must to prevent disease outbreaks,” she said.
The director said they have received FMD vaccination supply from the Government of India and they are doing the procurement of LSD vaccination. She said there is no shortage of vaccines.
“Our teams are in the field in every village and veterinary centres and there are vaccines available with them. We have launched it with mission mode,” she said.
The livestock owners are sensitized and made aware through various information, education and communication measures to get their animals vaccinated and requested to contact the nearest livestock health workers/ veterinarians to avail the facility.
“We have taken the vaccination in mission mode because no animal should be left unvaccinated,” the Director Animal Husbandry said.
Last year, Jammu and Kashmir reported 3,015 deaths of cattle due to Lumpy Skin Disease that hit the region in July last year, as per the figures shared by officials. As per official figures last year around 72,728 cattle had contracted LSD in J&K.