Anthrax has been prevailing in Gangni upazila under Meherpur district, and now it's Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). In September and October, 156 cows with LSD were taken to the livestock office of the district for treatment. Every day, fresh cases are being reported from different villages. There is no treatment for the disease, Livestock Department sources said.
LSD infects only cows and buffaloes. Since the vaccine is not available in Bangladesh, doctors of the Livestock Department cannot provide treatment. The disease is spread through flies, mosquitoes, glue and used needles and syringes. It causes decrease in cow's milk, cattle becomes weak, loses weight, the skin loses tautness.
The outbreak of LSD has caused panic among farmers and owners of dairy farms.
In the last two months, 156 cows have been treated in the Livestock Department of Gangni upazila. Livestock officials have advised people to be vigilant and not panic. But if the disease is not eradicated, dairy farm owners will suffer losses.
According to the Gangni Upazila Livestock Department, LSD was first detected in Zambia in 1929. Subsequently, it spread to different countries of Africa, in the Middle East in 2015 and later Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and surrounding countries. LSD was found in Serbia, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Kosovo in 2016. This year, LSD was detected in some areas of China and India.
Shahabul Islam of Saharbati village said he is a farmer raring two cows at home, besides doing agricultural work. A few days ago, a cow developed skin disease. He took the cow to the Sadar Upazila Livestock Office, where the veterinary doctor said it was a viral skin disease. There is still no treatment for the disease in this country.
Sultan Mahmud , a cattle farmer in the village of Apara, said some of the cattle had been infected with the disease around his farm. But if the vaccine is not administered quickly to cure the disease, livestock farmers and ranchers will suffer huge losses.
Gangani upazila livestock officer, Mostafa Zaman, said it was a new outbreak of the viral skin disease (Lumpy Skin Disease) in Bangladesh.
"The vaccine is not available in Bangladesh, so we cannot provide proper treatment. It will not be right to eat the flesh of the attacked animal.
|
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.