As Eid-ul-Azha draws near, concerns have arisen regarding the potential outbreak of the Congo and the Lumpy skin virus in cattle.

The Livestock and Dairy Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sent a letter to all districts, alerting them to the possibility of an outbreak of the Congo and Lumpy skin virus in cattle.

The movement of cattle during this time increases the risk of transmission, and therefore, additional measures are being implemented, it said.

The department has advised that check posts in tribal districts be equipped with additional sprays for cattle to mitigate the potential spread of the viruses.

It stressed that these diseases not only pose a threat to livestock but also to public health.

Alam Zeb Khan, the Director of the Livestock Department, has reported that 83,000 vaccine doses for the Lumpy skin disease have already been procured. The department has requested funds from the Finance Department to purchase additional vaccines in order to address the potential outbreak effectively.

Khan further revealed that in the previous year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed the infection of approximately 180,000 cattle with the Lumpy skin disease, claiming 7,000 cattle’s lives.

Livestock owners and individuals involved in the cattle trade are advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to minimize the risk of the Congo and Lumpy skin disease transmission during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha festivities.

Lumpy skin disease is carried by a vector, such as a mosquito or other parasites. Animals can also pass the infection on to each other in rare cases and contaminated surfaces can also sometimes spread the disease but it does not spread to other species of animals. The virus affects the nodes of animals and can eventually lead to large-sized lesions forming on the body.

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.

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