SRINAGAR: Cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) have been reported among cattle in Kastigarh area of Doda district, with five to six cattle reportedly dead, prompting the Animal Husbandry Department to deploy a medical team to the affected areas.
An official said the number of active cases in the district had declined to around 25 from approximately 300 reported earlier. He said only a few cattle deaths had been reported in the district, adding that the disease had a mortality rate of around 1–2 per cent.
“The number of cases is low here compared with the overall situation,” the official said, adding that lumpy skin disease had also been reported in other states, including Bihar, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The department has sent an expert team to the affected areas to assess the situation and provide the necessary veterinary assistance.
Local residents said lumpy skin disease had also spread in the area in 2022, raising concerns among livestock owners over the latest reports. Cattle are a major source of livelihood for many small-scale farmers, and an outbreak can affect household incomes through animal deaths, reduced milk production and treatment costs.
Lumpy skin disease is a viral infection that primarily affects cattle and is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, including flies and mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, skin nodules and a decline in milk production. Animals may continue to experience reduced productivity even after recovering from the infection.
The disease can place a financial burden on livestock-dependent households, particularly where milk sales and cattle rearing provide a significant share of family income.
Last month, cases of lumpy skin disease were also reported among cattle in Tulamulla and Sherpathri areas of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
The latest reports from Doda come amid concerns among livestock owners about the spread of the disease. The Animal Husbandry Department’s assessment of the affected areas will be important in determining the extent of the current outbreak.
