Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak in Sikkim showing signs of decline, says Central team

GANGTOK,: A two-member Central expert team has observed that Sikkim is on the right path for control and management of Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak which is showing signs of stability and decline in the cattle population of Sikkim, informs a media release from the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AHVS) department.

Sikkim has been battling the Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak since the first reported case last December. About 62,564 cows and other livestock animals have been vaccinated till last month, recording coverage of 42% in the State. Around 1,100 livestock animals have succumbed so far, for which, the State government has issued compensation claim forms to the affected farmers.

The AVHS department has mobilized additional manpower in the vaccination drive, aiming to achieve herd immunity within two months. The State government also sought technical support from the Centre to supplement the department’s efforts in containing the Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak.

It was informed that the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying deputed a two-member expert team to Sikkim. The team – Ministry’s joint commissioner Dr. Vijay Kumar and ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology & Disease Informatics principal scientist Dr. Manjunath Reddy - is here from August 4 to 6, the release informs.

The two Central officials visited various Lumpy Skin Disease-affected areas and observed the status of the disease, interacted with farmers, studied the status of diseased animals and evaluated the efforts and intervention taken by the AHVS department.

On Friday late evening, the Central team held a detailed discussion with the AHVS secretary Dr. P. Senthil Kumar, officials and veterinary officers here.

“In the discussions, the team made a presentation on their observations, appreciated the efforts of the department, technical intervention and the dedication shown by the veterinarians in the field and ask them to continue all the best practices with the objective to achieve the control the incidence of the disease,” the AHVS department said.

As per the release, the Central team suggested some additional measures for handling the co-morbidity specially the blood protozoan diseases in Sikkim in order to reduce the mortality rate. They informed that the epidemiological status of the disease indicates that the disease is showing the trend of decline in areas where the incidence detected early and hope to achieve herd immunity sooner in all areas of Sikkim, may be in a month’s time.

The team is of the opinion that as this is being a viral disease and as the virus is here to stay, annual vaccination of cattle against Lumpy Skin Disease has to be practiced now onwards to get rid of this incidence, said the AHVS department.

At the meeting, Dr. Kumar informed about the support harnessed from the district officials to supplement the vaccination efforts of the department, which is resulting in faster coverage of vaccination in the field. He expressed confidence that the Central team’s visit, their support and suggestions shall further significantly expedite the process to control and manage this viral disease in Sikkim at the earliest, the release mentions.