Haryana will conduct a mass vaccination of cattle, restrict their movement from one place to another and ban cattle fairs to arrest the spread of lumpy skin disease in the state.
Speaking in the state assembly, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister J P Dalal on Tuesday said that 5 lakh vaccines have been ordered for the prevention of the disease in cattle, adding that the vaccines will reach the state by evening.
"We have procured the vaccines for immediate vaccination to the animals," he said while responding to the Calling Attention Motion moved by Opposition Congress MLA Amit Sihag. The minister said the disease mainly affects cattle. He said out of 62.92 lakh bovines (buffalo and cattle) in the state, 19.32 lakh are cattle. Initial reports of the lumpy skin disease (LSD) were reported from Yamunanagar district in July last week.
Giving details of the total number of cases as on August 8, Dalal said the number of villages affected are 482, while 6,135 cattle have been affected and number of deaths reported is 23. He said that Sirsa district is the worst-hit where 103 villages have been affected involving 825 cattle, while 19 cattle have died. Ambala, Yamunanagar and Kaithal districts have also been affected, he said.
Dalal said the disease has less impact in Haryana as compared to neighbouring Punjab and Rajasthan and the department has also issued an advisory regarding this disease that the movement of animals should be restricted, while no cattle fairs be held for the time being, he said.
Farmers are being advised that isolation of affected animals from other animals is of utmost importance. The department is motivating farmers to spray insecticides to control flies, mosquitoes and external parasites. To provide necessary information to farmers about this disease, 10 lakh pamphlets are being distributed.
Lumpy disease infects cows and buffaloes mainly through vectors like blood-feeding insects. It leads to formation of nodes on an animal's skin or hide that look like lumps.
MORE THAN 50K CATTLE VACCINATED IN PUNJAB
Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Tuesday visited Jindanwala, Nabipur, and Naushehra Pannuan villages in Tarn Taran district to take stock of the Lumpy Skin disease.
The Minister, accompanied by veterinary doctors and animal experts, took stock of the relief and awareness works being carried out by the Animal Husbandry Department and listened to the problems of the people and livestock farmers. The Minister has been visiting various affected villages of the State and gauging the ground reality besides instructing the authorities for necessary actions from time to time.
Interacting with the media, Bhullar informed that more than 50,000 cattle have been administered goat pox vaccine free of cost in the State, adding that more than 2.33 lakh doses of goat pox have reached the State in two phases. “The second batch of 1.67 lakh doses, brought from Ahmedabad today, has already been distributed to all the districts and affected areas,” he said.
“District Deputy Directors of the Department have been instructed to immediately contact the head office for any requirement of vaccine so that the vaccination drive doesn't face any hindrance,” said the Animal Husbandry Minister, adding that 673 teams of veterinary officers and inspectors have been constituted by the department, which are constantly engaged in vaccination and awareness campaign.