New infection in cows triggers panic in Andhra Pradesh amidst COVID-19 fears

Lumpy skin disease, a viral infection, has spread to cows in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, a year after it was first noticed in Odisha. Infected cows with red lumps on their skins at a village in the city outskirts triggered panic among people amidst COVID-19 fears.

Krishna: At a time when coronavirus is playing havoc with the country, the spread of Lumpy skin disease (LSD), a viral infection, to cows in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district has triggered panic among the people and causing worries to dairy farmers.

Lumpy skin is an infectious disease in cattle which damages hide and may result in chronic debility, reduced milk production, poor growth, infertility and sometimes death. The disease caused by a virus of the family Poxviridae is spread through mosquitoes, flies and ticks. The disease is characterized by fever, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and multiple nodules on the skin and mucous membranes (including those of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts).

As many as 70 cows have been struck with the rare viral infection, a year after it was first noticed in Odisha, prompting the farmers to either sell their cattle at low rates or abandon them, amidst COVID-19 fears.

As per reports, the cows got red spots over their bodies and their eyes have turned bloody. As people have not come across this disease in these parts earlier, the worried villagers feared the cows were infected with novel coronavirus and hence, approached a local veterinary doctor.

"We have informed the local veterinary authorities and they have given injection to the infected-cows to cure them. But there is no change in the situation, it is only getting worse and is spreading rapidly," said a farmer of the town.

The veterinary doctor explained that it is a disease communicable among cows only, due to pox virus. He assured that disease won't spread to any other animals, let alone human beings. He insisted that this is not coronavirus.

The assurance undoubtedly gave respite to the villagers but they were unable to stop the spread of the disease among the cows and therefore, approached the Department of Animal Husbandry. The negligence of the department into the matter has only aggravated the situation and left them with no solution.

In addition to this, the farmers are seeking door-to-door awareness campaign of the viral infection, as they have have no clue on how to treat the cattles, on an individual level and what precautions are necessary to lessen the impact.