Mumbai: BMC gears up to tackle lumpy skin disease

Lumpy skin disease spreads through mosquitoes and flies. Representation pic

The BMC has started a survey of all cattle sheds and will administer vaccines to the animals to guard against lumpy skin disease in Mumbai. There are 3,226 cows, bulls and calves and 24,388 buffalos, bulls and calves in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation jurisdiction.

According to the notification issued by the state government, the virus is mainly found in cattle. "The survey of cattle has been started by the Veterinary Health Department, and appropriate measures will also be taken by the pest control department," said Dr Kalimpasha Pathan general manager of the Deonar abattoir. He added that the vaccination will preferably be done in cows as they are more vulnerable than buffaloes. The vaccination will be completed within a week.

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The Health Department of BMC has constituted a team of a Veterinary Officer and a Senior Sanitary Inspector for the survey. Farmers should wash their hands with soap and water or sanitiser after handling the animals. Milk should be boiled well and then consumed, said a BMC official.