Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Feb 26: Till February 22, as many as 79 cattle have died in the district due to lumpy skin disease. The process of vaccination of most of the cattle is already done. District animal husbandry department is confident of bringing the disease under control within a week.

The number of cattle in the district is around 2.57 lac and the death rate is less than 2%. Around 7000 cattle are affected by the disease in the district, according to deputy director of district animal husbandry department Dr Shankar Shetty.

The lumpy skin disease spreads faster. It might take months together for the cattle to recover from the disease. Those who are dependent on dairy farming for livelihood will suffer the most.

The government is providing compensation of Rs 5000 for calves, Rs 20000 for cattle and Rs 30000 for oxen that die from this disease.

Dr Shankar Shetty says, “There is no need to panic. Vaccination should be done and quarantine of cattle needs to be done systematically.”

Public are scared as lumpy skin disease is seen in cattle that loaf around on streets. Social workers Ganeshraj Saralebettu and Rajesh Prabhu Karkala have appealed to the health and animal husbandry department to take care of the street cattle.