Amidst an outbreak of lumpy skin disease in the Sindh Province of Pakistan, reports emerged that Saudi Arabia has rolled back and imposed a temporary ban on the import of beef from the country. Later the rumors were confirmed when the Saudi Arabian Embassy Press Attaché in an interview with local media, acknowledged the claims.
On the other hand, the livestock department is struggling to cater to the local needs, and the country is currently undergoing a milk and meat crisis. In view of the looming crisis, the department regulated the transport of the affected cattle to other cities and has also started “Kisan Livestock Baithak” awareness program to promote preventative measures like protection of livestock from mosquitoes and insects, maintaining a clean environment, raising natural immunity and ensuring cleanliness in cattle pens and their surroundings.
Read More: Center for Disease Control advises on reopening schools in the US
Lumpy Skin Disease:
The lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease in cows and water buffalos that affects the skin of the cattle, forming lumps on its surface resulting in significant production losses in the livestock. The disease is spread mainly by the bite of an insect; however, some analysts claim that it can also be transmitted through a knife cut. According to the Ministry of Food Security, Lumpy Skin Disease has a mortality rate of 1-5%.
Soon after the onset of the disease, important meetings headed by the former Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah were held. Top officials of the livestock department also attended the meetings, and plans were discussed to mitigate the spread and the impact of the virus. So far, more than 30 thousand livestock have been affected by the disease. Although there has been a marked reduction in the transmission rate of the disease compared to the initial stages of the outbreak, the threat of it still lingers, forcing countries to stop importing beef from Pakistan.
Read More: Pakistani mosquitoes to provide vaccines against diseases?
Responding to a question on whether the consumption of milk and meat of affected animals is safe or not, Dr. Faisal Mahmood, an infectious disease expert at the Aga Khan University Hospital, said that “Although not preferred, the meat and milk of these animals can be consumed after thoroughly cooking them.”
Lumpy skin disease was first seen as an epidemic in Zambia in 1929. Initially, it was thought to be the result of either poisoning or hypersensitivity to insect bites. Additional cases occurred between 1943 and 1945 in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and the Republic of South Africa.
Read More: Is COVID-19 a biological weapon?