QALAT (Pajhwok): Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is rapidly spreading in southern Zabul province and has infected about 3000 cows and killed 480 cows so far, residents say.
The contagious viral disease has spread across the province but Shamolzai, Atghar and Shahjoy districts are worst hit.
Rahmatullah, a resident of Qalat city, told Pajhwok Afghan News the disease infected his cow which died three weeks later.
He added first nodules appeared on the cow skin and water was flowing from its eyes and mouth, then the cow’s legs swelled. “The cow was not eating and drinking. We gave it a lot of medicine, but it did not help.”
He called on the Department of Agriculture and Livestock to assistant livestock owners in preventing their animals from the dangerous disease or they would lose their livestock to the disease and suffer financial losses.
Rozi Mohammad, a resident of Khozo village in Shamolzai district, also told Pajhwok his cow was infected with the lumpy skin disease. He said he kept the cow to use its milk and yogurt.
The resident said many cows in their village were infected with the disease and so far 30 to 40 cows had died of the disease.
He said people were worried the disease would further spread and kill cows if necessary measures were not taken to control it.
Mohammad urged the Department of Agriculture and Livestock to import vaccine for the disease and give it to people at a reasonable price.
Meanwhile, cattle farmers fear thousands of cows will die if the disease is not controlled and livescok owners will suffer huge losses.
Samiullah, owner of a cattle farm in Qalat city, said his cows were so far safe from the disease, but he was afraid the dangerous disease could infect his cows. He said each of his cows was priced at 200,000 afghanis.
He also called on the Department of Agriculture and related organizations to provide medicines and vaccines to cattle farmers and give them necessary instructions.
Maulvi Attaullah Rashid, Zabul Agriculture and Livestock director, told Pajhwok they had started efforts with the help of the relevant ministry and foreign institutions to provide vaccines to cattle owners.
“According to our information, in Zabul there are a total of 65,000 cows. Since last 45 days, about 3,000 cows have been infected with the lumpy skin disease in Qalat city and some districts, and more than 480 have died.”
He said efforts were being made to find vaccine for the disease in cooperation with the ministry concerned. He had also talked to NGOs and they had promised to provide vaccine.
Veterinarians say people should separate cattle infected with lumpy skin disease from other animals and also pay attention to their food, clean environment and washing them every day.
The lumpy skin disease first came to border provinces of Afghanistan from Pakistan a few months ago and now it has spread to many provinces and has killed thousands of cows.
ma
Views: 158
GET IN TOUCH
NEWSLETTER
SUGGEST A STORY
PAJHWOK MOBILE APP