At least 1,431 cows have died in Gujarat as a result of the deadly Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), which has now spread to 20 districts in the state. The government has already vaccinated 8.17 lakh cattle and is trying to stop the spread of the disease by imposing restrictions on cow movement in the affected regions.
Up to 54,161 cattle in over 1935 villages of 20 districts have been impacted by LSD. Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Porbandar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Botad, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Banaskantha, Surat, Patan, Aravalli, Panchmahal, Mahisagar, Valsad, and Mehsana are the districts that are affected. Kutch has been identified as one of the worst affected districts.
According to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will travel to Kutch to assess the situation on August 4. He previously visited Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Junagadh, and Rajkot – other affected regions.
The government on July 26 issued an official notification to impose restrictions on the transportation of cattle and holding of cattle fairs in the 14 affected Districts.
A state-level task team has been established under the direction of Naresh Kelawala, vice-chancellor of Kamadhenu University, to offer the necessary direction and advice to manage the situation.
The task force will comprise five members and will provide guidelines concerning vaccination and treatment of LSD.
According to Minister Patel, the government has received 21,026 calls in the previous eight days on the free helpline number 1962 asking for information about the disease.
Patel stated that the government has more than 7 lakh doses in store. In addition to the 222 veterinary officials and 713 veterinary supervisors, he said that 332 veterinary physicians had been contracted out to control the spread of this disease.
