Anxiety has gripped cattle farmers and dairy owners in several rural areas of Jand tehsil after reports of lumpy skin disease among cows, calves and buffaloes.
Livestock owners fear the virus could spread further unless authorities take effective preventive action.
Cases have reportedly emerged in Pind Suktani, Aurangabad, Injra, Khattakabad, Kani, Mathail, Kotwali, Thatta and Chabb, where farmers say the number of affected animals has been rising steadily.
Farmers alleged that despite the growing number of suspected cases, they were being forced to buy costly vaccines from private veterinary medicine stores because government-supplied doses were not readily available.
They also complained about weak disease surveillance, limited field monitoring, inadequate vaccination efforts and poor public awareness campaigns by the Livestock Department.
The farmers urged authorities to launch an immediate district-wide assessment to determine the actual extent of the disease and ensure timely vaccination and treatment.
Farmer Ahmed Khan said the disease appeared to spread through tick and mosquito bites, especially in stagnant water and unhygienic conditions. He said many small farmers, unable to afford private treatment, were relying on traditional remedies.
He claimed a vaccine dose was being sold for around Rs11,000 at local veterinary stores, making it unaffordable for small livestock owners.
Another farmer, Haji Irshad, called for urgent intervention to contain the disease and protect farmers from heavy economic losses.
Stakeholders demanded stronger field surveillance, accurate reporting of suspected cases, wider availability of vaccines and treatment facilities, and a proper awareness campaign for livestock owners.
According to Barani Livestock Production Research Institute Research Officer Asad Abbas Khan, lumpy skin disease causes painful nodules and swellings on the skin of cattle and can also lead to fever, loss of appetite and weakness.
He said the disease can sharply reduce milk production and damage the health and productivity of infected animals.
However, Deputy Director Livestock Development Dr Yasir Mustafa Butt rejected reports of an outbreak in Jand and described the situation as limited to isolated cases.
Talking to Dawn, he said the department’s Disease Investigation Department had identified the affected locations and was informing residents through its mobile application and field vaccinators.
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