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POKHARA: Lumpy skin disease has been detected in the Himalayan district of Manang, marking its presence in all 11 districts of Gandaki Province.
The first case of lumpy skin disease was reported in Manang about a week ago, expanding the reach of the disease across Gandaki Province’s 11 districts. So far, the disease has been detected in 80 out of 85 local units in the province.
According to data, lumpy skin disease has already claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 cattle in the province. Out of over 48,000 infected animals, 1,801 have succumbed to the disease. Among the affected cattle, cows account for the highest number of deaths with 849, followed by 700 oxen.
Nawalpur district, located in the southern parts of the province, remains the most severely affected, with 408 deaths reported. This represents 6.85% of the total infected cattle in the district. In Gorkha, 13,836 cattle have been diagnosed with lumpy skin disease. Mustang, on the other hand, has reported four deaths out of 33 infected cattle, consisting of 20 cows and 13 calves.
Narayan Kusum, Chief of Manang Veterinary Hospital, urged everyone to remain cautious as Manang is not immune to lumpy skin disease. Kusum stated that the veterinary hospital initiated a campaign against the disease after the first case was detected in an ox in Thanchok, near the district headquarters of Chame.
“We have intensified our vaccination drive to prevent the further spread of the disease,” he added.
Lumpy skin disease has caused an estimated loss of Rs 100 million in Gandaki Province alone. Veterinary technicians explain that lumpy skin is a viral disease transmitted by blood-feeding insects. It leads to the formation of lumps on the skin, accompanied by fever, and can ultimately result in death.
