Netrokona farmers panicked as lumpy skin disease attacks cattle

Hundreds of cattle in various villages in Kendua and Nandail upazilas of Netrokona have been suffering from a lumpy disease for the last few days, making farmers anxious about their animals.

Local livestock officers said it was a highly contagious viral skin disease, however, an affected animal can be cured within two to three weeks if it is given vaccine in time.

As the disease attacked for the first time, the farmers could not determine it. Later, local livestock officers determined the disease.

Farmers said the animal first had a fever, followed by saliva coming out from mouth and nose, lumps on the skin and hair loss. The lumps gradually spread all over the body. The affected cow is unable to eat anything and becomes too weak to stand itself.

Bipul Mia from Salimpur village said at least 10 cows on his farm have showed the symptoms.

Some farmers said they initially gave the affected cow medicine from local pharmacies and even after spending around Tk3,000 there was no improvement. Then they went to the upazila livestock office.

District livestock officer Monoronjon Dhar said, "There is no need to be panicked. The affected cow can be cured within two to three weeks if it is treated in time. We have supplied goat pox vaccine to the affected areas. There is no chance of infection among human being."

Nandail upazila livestock officer Moloy Kanti Modok said people have been told to keep the affected animal separate as it is a highly contagious disease.

According to Agriculture Information Service, the lumpy disease started in Bangladesh a few years ago. The disease was first identified in Zambia in 1929. As there were many epidemics in Africa the disease is more common there, and the death rate is 40 percent. Mosquito and fly are the carriers of the virus.