At least 15,000 cattle have been infected with the lumpy skin disease virus in Uttar Pradesh so far and 115 cattle have died. 1,414 villages of UP are in the grip of this virus.
The UP government has constituted Team-9 for the prevention of lumpi virus, which is running a 6-day campaign from 29 August to 3 September for the prevention of the disease.
All the cases have been reported from 21 districts of western UP. These states are Aligarh, Amroha, Baghpat, Bijnor, Badaun, Bulandshahr, Etah, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Hathras, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Sambhal, Shahjahanpur, Shamli, Firozabad and Bareilly.
The government has banned the entry of animals from other states and fairs. The government claimed that frequent vaccination among animals would help in overcoming the deadly virus.
India Today reached the ground where about 31 animals have died due to the lumpi virus in Saharanpur and the virus has reached 429 villages. A total of 4,530 cows have been infected in Saharanpur so far. Out of which 2,880 cows have been cured after treatment. At the same time, in Bijnor district, four animals have died and 407 are sick, while 5,900 animals have been vaccinated.
Symptoms of lump disease in 383 animals in Bulandshahr, two animals have died due to this and other diseases. Administration is on alert. Infected animals are kept in isolation. Along with this, 800 cases have also been reported in Mathura and a laboratory has been set up at the University of Veterinary Sciences at Duvasu, Mathura in which samples of nodular disease will be tested.
Talking to India Today, Director of State Animal Husbandry Department Dr Indramani said that in districts where the spread is high, medical officers and city administration are working together. So far 17 lakh vaccines have been administered in the affected districts like Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Mathura and Aligarh.
Along with pesticides, animals are being identified and isolated and efforts are being made to reduce the vector by spraying hydrochloride supplies.
Experts believe that it is necessary to take precautions in advance to prevent infection. According to Animal Welfare Officer Abhinav Verma, it can be controlled through vaccination, but it is necessary to isolate the animal. In this disease red rash occurs on the body of the animal and the infection spreads rapidly.
Meanwhile, UP Animal Husbandry Minister Dharampal Singh told India Today that the lumpi virus is a big problem, due to which the state borders with Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh have been closed, as well as this alert is on. The situation will soon be under control as there are enough vaccines in the state and necessary restrictions have been imposed.
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