Nawalparasi: Thirty-four cattle have been found infected with lumpy skin disease in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West). In recent times, the infection has been observed in cattle that were not vaccinated, posing a risk of further spread, stated Shrawan Kumar Chaudhary, Chief of the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Centre.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the lumpy skin infection has spread across several areas within the district, including Sunawal, Bardaghat, Susta, Pratappur, and Ramgram. Dr. Bibhuti Singh from the Centre reported that regular treatment of infected cattle and inspections are ongoing in these areas. Although the infection has not resulted in significant cattle deaths, farmers are concerned due to a decline in milk production.
Dr. Singh noted that while the lumpy skin infection has been detected nationwide recently, it was first identified in Bardaghat in Asar and has now spread across five local levels within the district. Symptoms of lumpy skin disease include fever, reduced milk production, firm nodules on the skin, and discharge from the nose and eyes, as explained by Dr. Chaudhary.
This disease was first confirmed in cows at Sundarharaicha municipality-11 of Morang on June 24, 2020, and was verified as lumpy skin disease by the Central Veterinary Lab, Tripureshwor, on July 27, 2020. According to data from the Central Referral Veterinary Hospital, Tripureshwor, the disease has spread to 76 districts, affecting 555,000 cattle, with 21,000 fatalities.