Meghalaya: Lumpy skin disease detected in cows, several villages declared 'infected'

The villages were declared infected for disease prevention and control, the officials said.

Similar symptoms were also found among cows in different villages of East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills districts but locals are yet to inform the veterinary authorities, a local community leader told news agency PTI. He said the locals believe "it is sent by the Gods", and it will heal by itself.

Lumpy skin disease is a viral bovine disease caused by a virus belonging to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox and monkeypox. The disease results in fever, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and multiple nodules across the surface of the skin. These nodules also form on mucous membranes inside the body and as on organs like the eyes, nose, mouth, rectum, udder and genitalia.

The virus spreads through blood-feeding insects like ticks, mosquitoes, flies, lice, wasps and more. The disease can also spread through bodily fluids like blood, nasal discharge, lacrimal secretions, semen and saliva, and through infected milk to suckling calves.

As a result, young calves are most susceptible to severe symptoms but the disease spreads through all age groups easily. Along with fever during the onset of symptoms, the cattle also experience a swelling of limbs. The disease also causes chronic debility, reduced milk production, poor growth, infertility, abortion, and sometimes death, leading to severe economic implications.