Lumpy skin disease? Is it safe to consume milk?

There has been a sudden spread of disease among cows that is growing into likely the next epidemic. The sudden increase in cases of lumpy skin disease has created havoc in the entire country, where cows are sacred and an important part of husbandry. The first case of lumpy skin disease was reported in 2019 in India. Currently, the disease has spread in more than ten Indian states including Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The rapidly spreading disease has led to the death of more than 75,000 cattle till now. 

With the diagnosis of lumpy skin disease, people are often concerned about the fact that whether or not the milk from infected cattle is safe for human consumption.

Therefore, in this article, let us talk about lumpy skin disease in cows, lumpy skin disease in humans, and lumpy skin disease treatment. 

What is lumpy skin disease?

Lumpy skin disease is a viral infection that is transmitted through blood-feeding insects like ticks, mosquitoes, and flies. The infection can even spread through both contaminated food and water. However, the good thing is that the infection does not transfer from cattle to humans. The disease generally infects buffaloes, cows, and deer. The disease is characterized by the development of nodules on the skin and fever that can even lead to the death of cattle. The infection also leads to reduced milk production, watery eyes, loss of appetite, and increased nasal discharge.

Thankfully, an indigenous vaccine called Lumpi-ProVac was launched on 10th August by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers WelfareNarendra Singh Tomar. This vaccine was developed by the collaboration of the National Equine Research Center (Hisar, Haryana) and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (Izzatnagar, Bareilly). According to a scientist at IVRI, Mr. Amit Kumar, the vaccine for goat pox can also provide considerable protection against lumpy skin disease. The goat pox vaccine was given for two years in some states of India, where the infection has subsided and has not even re-occurred this year. Currently, the supply of goat pox vaccine is not enough to meet the growing demand. Goat pox vaccine is manufactured by the Indian Immunologicals Ltd (a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board) and Hester Biosciences.

Lumpy skin disease is a serious infection that can lead to the death of the animal. The increased cases of the disease have worried the whole country. The vaccine is the only treatment and prevention available for the disease. Therefore, get your buffaloes, cattle, and deer vaccinated so that they can stay protected from this fatal viral infection.

Is it safe to drink milk from lumpy skin disease-infected cattle?

With the increased cases of lumpy skin disease, there is an emerging concern among the population that whether or not consuming milk from lumpy skin disease-infected cattle is safe or not. According to the joint director of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Ashok Kumar Mohanty, the milk of cattle infected with lumpy skin disease is safe to consume irrespective of the fact that you consume it before or after boiling. The milk of cattle may get infected due to the virus, but lumpy skin disease is a non-zoonotic infection that cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. Thus, drinking milk or eating meat is not at all dangerous for human health. The severity of the disease and the immune system of the infected animal determines whether the milk production in the infected cattle will be affected or not. However, milk production usually gets affected and is considerably reduced due to fever, nodule formation, and other systems that weaken the complete body of the animal. A timely vaccine against lumpy skin disease can prevent the occurrence of infection and the effect it has on milk production. The infection for the first time in non-vaccinated cattle can affect the milk output by 40-50%. 

Takeaway

Lumpy skin disease is a viral infection that affects cattle, buffalo, and deer. The infection is not transmitted to humans, it only gets transmitted between animals due to an insect bite. The symptoms of the infection make the animal weak leading to its death in several cases. Vaccination is the only key that can help prevent infection. But, when an economically important animal like cattle is affected, we all get worried about the safety of the products obtained from that animal. As of now, it has been declared that is it safe to consume milk from cattle that have been infected with the virus. Now that you have read the complete article, I am sure you have the answer to this most commonly asked question.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best treatment available for lumpy skin disease?

Currently, there is no treatment available for lumpy skin disease. Vaccines are the only way to prevent your livestock from a fatal infection.

2. Which antibiotic is given for lumpy skin disease?

To relieve the symptoms of lumpy skin disease, amoxicillin antibiotics are generally recommended.

3. What virus causes lumpy skin disease?

The main causative agent behind lumpy skin disease belongs to the family Poxviridae and the genus Capripoxvirus.