News
Top vet virologists warn of new viral disease spreading among cattle
A new viral disease is spreading fast among cattle in Sri Lanka, veterinary virologists have sounded the alarm.
Addressing a news conference on Friday in Kandy, Animal Production and Health Department virologist Dr. Pradeep Kumarawadu said the virus was first detected in Jaffna in September last year, but it had now spread to 14 districts. He said the department had sent samples collected from the afflicted cattle to the Pirbright Institute in the UK for a laboratory test. The report is due in four weeks.
The expert said dairy farmers and residents were being warned of the disease known in other parts of the world as “Lumpy Skin Disease” or LSD. They had been advised to isolated the infected cattle and take other precautions.
The disease is characterised by fever, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and multiple nodules (measuring 2-5 cm in diameter) on the skin and mucous membranes (including those of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts).
The viral cattle disease has been reported from Mullaitivu, Kalmunai, Vavuniya, Mannar, Polonnaruwa, Badulla and several other areas.
Animal Production and Health Department Addition Director General Dr.L.W.B. Epakanda said the disease was being controlled in other countries by vaccination and the department was in touch with its foreign counterparts to obtain a suitable vaccine.