FAQ on Lumpy Skin Disease

Question: What is Lumpy Skin Disease?

Answer: It is a disease caused by a pox virus. In this, 2 to 5 cm diameter lumps fall in the body of cow buffalo. For this reason, this disease is called lumpy skin disease in colloquial language. These knots are mainly around the head, neck, udder various genitals. Which later turns into a deep wound.

Question: The main symptoms of this disease i.e. how do we identify this disease?

Answer:

(1) The first symptom is to be seen in this disease. That is, the temperature of the body goes up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.

(2) The animal stops eating the fodder and becomes lethargic.

(3) Since there are wounds in the respiratory tract also. Hence there is difficulty in breathing.

(4) In this there is swelling of the lymph gland, which can be felt by holding it with the hand.

(5) The blood flow gets blocked due to swelling in the lymph gland, due to which the dependent part gets filled with water.

(6) Water starts coming from the nose and eyes.

(7) There is excessive secretion of saliva.

8) The quality of the skin also deteriorates, due to which there is economic loss even after the animal is cured.

Question: How does this disease spread among cows and buffaloes?

Answer:

(1) This disease is spread in cows and buffaloes through mosquito fly kills.

(2) Cow buffaloes who suffer from this disease also have its virus in their saliva and nasal secretions which contaminate water and fodder and if such contaminated water and fodder are eaten by other cow buffaloes, then they too. This disease spreads.

(3) If a bull is suffering from this disease, then its semen also spreads this disease.

Question: What measures should be taken to prevent the disease?

Answer:

(1) Animals should neither be taken out in the infected area nor the animal should be brought inside from outside in the infected area.

(2) Veterinarians caring for infected animals should not come into contact with healthy animals or take care of healthy animals only after thoroughly washing hands with soap.

(3) Insecticides should be sprayed so that flies, mosquitoes and mites etc. can be stopped.

Question: Is vaccination available for the prevention of this disease, can the disease animal also be vaccinated?

Answer:

(1) The vaccine used for the prevention of smallpox in goats is used for the disease of lumpy skin disease.

(2) Never vaccinate infected animals.

(3) Ring vaccination should be done for 5 km around the infected village.

(4) Vaccination should not be done in all animals with the same needle. Otherwise, the disease spreads from one animal to another.

Question: Are all small and big animals equally infected?

Answer:

(1) Calves are more infected than larger animals.

(2) Foreign breeds of cow are more infected than indigenous breeds.

(3) This disease takes more dreadful form in cows than in buffaloes.

Question: What should be done with such animals when the animal dies?

Answer: After the death of the animal, it should be buried by digging a deep pit.

Question: Does this disease spread from animals to humans as well?

Answer: No

Question: Is it safe to drink milk from cows suffering from this disease?

Answer: So far this disease has not been seen in humans from the milk of infected cow buffalo, yet for more safety, cow buffalo milk should be consumed only after boiling it.

Question: If the calf, calf or pada padi of infected cow buffaloes drinks milk, then can this disease also occur in it?

Answer: Yes, because milk is not boiled.

In the end, I would like to say to all the animal owners that prevention is better than cure. So make sure to vaccinate your cows and buffaloes.