Vaccination programs against Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Health

Why in News?

During 2025, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has been reported in ten Indian states highlighting the need for the increased vaccination programs.

Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
Aim
- Reducing risk to animal health by prophylactic vaccination against diseases of animals,
- Capacity building of Veterinary services,
- Disease surveillance and strengthening veterinary infrastructure.
Umbrella Scheme – Assistance to State for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) of Livestock Health and Disease Control Program (LHDCP) scheme.
Technical support – Through the visits of Central Expert Teams including physical and virtual meetings.
Initiatives – Formulation of disease specific National Action Plans (NAPs) to prevent and control animal diseases.
This includes identification and notification of the affected area, isolation of affected animals, implementation of biosecurity measures.
Crisis Management Plan (CMP) – Developed for mitigating livestock diseases in managing animal disease outbreaks.
Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTGs) – Formulated for veterinary care to enhance livestock health and disease control.
Early warning and alerts on 15 diseases in local languages to farmers, veterinarians and field officials through National Animal Disease Referral Expert System (NADRES) platform.
Top 3 vaccinated states (in lakhs)
- Uttar Pradesh (469.87)
- Maharashtra (413.41)
- Madhya Pradesh (300.94)

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) – It is a viral disease of cattle and water buffalo.
Caused by - The Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), a member of the Capripoxvirus genus within the Poxviridae family.
Spread by – Mosquitoes, flies, lice, wasps, by direct contact among the cattle, and through contaminated food and water.
Symptoms
- Fever and depression in animals,
- Characteristic skin nodules all over the body,
- Marked reduction in milk production,
- Difficulty in eating, which sometimes lead to the animal's death.
Prevention – Four tactics to control LSD are quarantine, vaccination, slaughter campaigns and management strategies.
Treatment – There is no treatment for the virus, vaccination is the most effective means of control.

Reference

PIB| Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)