Kangra reports 350 lumpy skin disease cases, 70 active

Animal Husbandry Department intensifies vaccination drive as district records 15-20 new cases daily

Kangra, September 10

Kangra district has reported around 350 cases of lumpy skin disease among livestock, with nearly 70 cases currently active, prompting the Animal Husbandry Department to intensify vaccination and preventive measures to contain the spread.

According to the department, 211 infected animals have recovered, while treatment of the active cases is underway. Officials said the district was currently recording an average of 15 to 20 new cases a day.

Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Dr Seema Guleria said cases had been reported in Kangra and several other districts of Himachal Pradesh this year. She said regular vaccination had helped keep the severity of symptoms relatively low, with some infected animals recovering within a day or two.

The department is vaccinating around 55,000 animals in the district and has set September 30 as the deadline to complete the drive.

Authorities have advised livestock owners to avoid unnecessary movement of animals, prevent them from roaming in the open and temporarily refrain from buying or selling livestock to reduce the risk of transmission.

Guleria said the border areas of Jawali and Nurpur had reported a comparatively higher number of cases. Cases had also been detected in Dharamshala, Kangra subdivision and other parts of the district.

The department, however, said the situation was under control, while vaccination and other preventive measures were being intensified to check further transmission.