The Livestock Development Division of the Ministry emphasized that the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is spreading among cattle in Mullaitivu district these days.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Livestock Development Division yesterday (7) to investigate this disease situation immediately. Additional Secretary Dr. L. W. N. Samaranayake said
this condition was reported for the first time in Sri Lanka in 2019 and before that this diseases was not reported in the country.
Cattle are rarely killed by this disease, which is spread by a virus. Lumps that form on the skin cause wounds that fall off and heal with treatment.
Also, because this condition is caused by a virus, a cow once infected with the disease has no possibility of contracting the disease again.
The Agriculture Ministry said there is no need to be afraid of this disease and to follow the instructions given by the veterinary officers.
This disease is not spread by wind like the foot and mouth disease in cattle. The only way the disease is spread is through direct contact with other animals. Therefore, sick animals should be kept away from the cowsheds and isolated.
As this disease is currently reported to be present in four districts of the Northern Province, a special veterinary team is planning to investigate it today.
Also, to prevent the disease from spreading to other areas, the transport of animals and animal products from the Northern Province has been temporarily banned.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the Agriculture Ministry has already taken many measures to prevent diseases such as in districts like Nuwara-Eliya, where animal husbandry is practiced well, by introducing outsiders into the farms where animal husbandry is being done used only after sterilizing milk collection containers.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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