Karachi’s dairy farmers are facing a new predicament with more and more animals getting lumpy skin disease every day.
The situation has become so dire that the Karachi farmers’ association has asked the federal government to help solve the situation.
The Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association in a letter addressed to the prime minister said: “There are around one million animals at cattle farms of Karachi and the skin disease has spread in cows and buffaloes.”
Originally found in Africa, lumpy skin disease, a viral infection of cattle, has also spread to countries in the Middle East, Asia, and eastern Europe.
The dairy farmers have demanded an immediate intervention of the government to control the viral disease, which is also spreading in other districts.
The farmers have demanded closure of inter-provincial borders for animal transport to contain spread of the disease.
They have also demanded specialist advice and the provision of medicines to cattle farmers to tackle the disease.
Commissioner Karachi has also taken notice of reports of the spreading animal disease at cattle farms in the city and has sought a report from Deputy Commissioner Malir.
He directed that the matter should be inquired into in collaboration with the provincial livestock department.
The commissioner was of the view that diseases in animals could affect milk supply to the city.
He also directed that the possible transmission of the disease from animals to humans should also be discussed with experts.
The lumpy skin disease is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever, nodules beneath the skin and can also lead to death.
