(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Livestock Development Division of the Ministry of Agriculture emphasizes that Lumpy Skin Disease is the disease that is spreading among cattle in Mullaitivu district these days.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Livestock Development Division today (07) to investigate this disease situation immediately.
Additional Secretary Dr. L. W. N. Samaranayake explaining the information about the disease said this condition was reported for the first time in Sri Lanka in 2019 and before that this condition was not reported in this country.
Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle and rarely fatal. Nodules that form on the skin cause wounds that fall off and heal with treatment, the official explained.
Also, because this condition is caused by a virus, a cow once infected with the disease has no possibility of contracting the disease again.
Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture requests the cattle owners not to be afraid of this disease and to follow the instructions given by the veterinary officers.
In particular, this disease is not spread by air like foot and mouth disease. The only way to spread disease is through contact with other animals. Therefore, the sick animals should be kept away from the cowsheds and isolated.
The Ministry instructed people to thoroughly clean their hands with disinfectants if they come into contact with the infected animals before touching other animals.
As this disease is currently reported to be present in four districts of the Northern Province, a special veterinary team will be going to the Northern Province today to investigate it.
Also, to prevent the disease from spreading to other areas, the transportation of animals and animal products from the Northern Province has been temporarily banned.
Also, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture has already taken many measures to prevent the spread of the disease including not allowing outsiders to enter cattle farms in districts like Nuwara Eliya, where animal husbandry is practiced well using milk collection vessels only after sterilization. The Ministry of Agriculture emphasizes that there is no need to be afraid of this disease because the death of cows is at a minimum level. However, if the disease spreads, it will primarily affect the production of milk, so the people involved in cattle management should be vigilant, the Ministry stressed.
