At least nine trucks carrying sacrifical animals have been turned away from Karachi’s cattle market in the last ten days after at least one animal in each vehicle was found affected by lumpy skin disease.

Asif Ali, the public relations officer at the Karachi cattle market, said that the veterinarians stationed at the market entrance inspect animals brought to the market. Upon finding at least one animal infected with the disease, the vets ordered the return of the entire truck. There have been nine such instances since May 27, he said. He said that at least 2,000 animals have arrived in the market so far.

LSD is a highly infectious disease of cattle and water buffalo that does not affect other livestock or humans, according to experts. The disease is caused by a virus like sheep pox and goat pox and is mostly transmitted by biting insects.

The disease is known to have low morbidity but a strong impact on productivity. So far, there has been no known cure with culling cited as the only solution to stop the spread of the disease. Vaccination of cattle is the most effective method for controlling its spread, according to the European Food Safety Authority.

LSD is a viral disease of cattle and buffalo that spreads through the bite of blook-sucking insects like mosquitoes or parasites. The disease affects the skin of the infected animal through creating large-size lesions on the body.

At least 225 animals have died in Sindh due to the disease.

The World Organisation for Animal Health has said that the meat of the cattle infected with lumpy skin disease could be consumed by removing the affected areas.