LUMPY DISEASE IN COW

Negligence and delay to react and tackling the situation led to the spread of LSD in cows and we are witnessing this regrettable situation.

Due to lumpy disease, 75000 cattle died so far and 18.5 lakh bovines are affected across India. Yes, this is the situation for cows in India.

In the same country, India, where the cow was once treated as a goddess and was representative of natural beneficence. The degree of veneration toward cows is indicated by the use of its products like:

Cow dung and urine for purification

Panchagavya for health and healing process

Nourishment supplied by cow products associated cow with “Motherhood” and over time cow became the symbol of generosity.

HOW DOES LUMPY OR LSD SPREAD IN INDIA?

Lumpy disease / LSD “Lumpy Skin Disease" spreading rapidly in many states has highlighted the negligence Indians have toward bovines. Government and NGOs use working for animals like PETA and all others all were mute spectators; when LSD or lumpy skin disease affected cows in Rajasthan and Haryana which killed many bovines.

Common people kept protesting again and again but none of their actions made our system realise the upcoming situation. This negligence and this delayed way to react and tackle the situation led to the spread of LSD in cows and we are witnessing this regrettable situation.

WHAT IS LUMPY DISEASE? HOW LUMPY HAPPENS?

Lumpy is caused by the “Lumpy Skin Disease Virus” (LSDV), which belongs to the Capri pox virus. This disease can spread through direct contact with vectors (mosquitoes, flies), contaminated fodder and water, and animal semen during artificial insemination.

Lumpy disease affects lymph nodes of animals causing nodes to enlarge and look like lumps. These nodules range from size of 2 to 5 cm in diameter and appear on the cow’s head, neck, genitalia, etc. which letter turns into an ulcer. Some symptoms are:

Depression
High fever
Loss of appetite
Discharge from the eyes and nose
Abortion
Infertility

IS LUMPY HAPPENING THE FIRST TIME?

LSD or Lumpy was first observed in the year 1929 in Zambia. That outbreak gradually spread to most African countries. Recently it was observed in 2019 in China and South Asia.

The first country to get affected in 2019 was Bangladesh and at that time it reached the states of Odisha and West Bengal in India. Before 2019 lumpy was observed in South-Eastern Europe, West Africa and Central Asia.

EFFECTS OF LUMPY DISEASE ON HUMANS

LSD or lumpy is a non-zoonotic disease. This means the disease cannot spread from animal to human. According to a study conducted, the presence of infectious LSD virus in milk from infected cows has not been found.

However, a large portion of milk is processed which ensures that any kind of virus if present gets inactivated or destroyed. As per studies, it is safe to consume milk from infected cattle even if you have it with or without boiling.

ECONOMIC IMPLICATION OF LUMPY DISEASE

Lumpy in cow, lead to reduce milk production in infected bovine. This reduction in milk is because of ulcers in the mouth which leads to loss of appetite. This makes the bovine weak over a while.

With 210 million tonnes of milk production, India is the world's largest milk producer. The current outbreak of LSD emerged as a challenge for Dairy Sector. Farmers are also at loss due to the death of their cattle by the disease.

After the ban on movements and trade of bovines in some states, the strain has been observed in the whole value chain.

PRECAUTIONS FOR LUMPY DISEASE OR LSD

As per the Union Ministery of Fishery, Animal Husbandry and Dairying “Goat Pox Vaccine” is an effective measure against lumpy disease. Other ways to prevent further outbreaks of disease are:

Spreading awareness

Sanitizing cow sheds

Control movement of bovines

Quarantine bovines

Vector control

WAY FORWARD

Apart from making cows a political issue or seeing them as the symbol of Hinduism; every organisation and individual should, first of all, see them as living beings who have hearts and who could feel the way humans feel.

It is not only dogs, cats, tigers, cheetahs, peacocks or any endangered animal who need attention and care. The cow also needs care, love, affection and a voice for them against every such thing which is against the Right to Life or any kind of cruelty which might harm them in any possible way.