What is the history of lumpy skin disease?
Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) causes lumpy skin disease (LSD). This disease was found in 1929 in Zambia. From there, it quickly spread to other African countries, West Asia, South-eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
In 2019, it spread to China and South Asia, with Bangladesh being the first South Asian country to get affected. From there, it spread to India. While the 2019 outbreak was stopped, India is facing another outbreak that began in June 2022.
How does it spread?
LSDV is not a zoonotic virus. So, LSD cannot spread to humans. But, this disease is very contagious and is spread by mosquitoes, some biting flies, and ticks. It mostly affects animals like cows and water buffaloes.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says that infected animals can also spread this disease through their oral and nasal fluids.
How does this disease affect animals?
LSD affects the lymph nodes of animals. As a result, the nodes grow to look like lumps on the skin.
Other signs of this sickness include a decrease in milk production, high fever, a loss of hunger, etc.
Is it safe to drink the milk of cows affected by this disease?
According to research, it has not been possible to find the presence of live and infectious LSDV in milk collected from infected animals. The FAO says that since most milk in Asia is boiled or pasteurised, the virus gets destroyed.
The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) has also said that milk from cows infected with LSD is safe to drink because LSD is not zoonotic.
How bad is the situation in India and what are we doing about it?

LSD has spread across many Indian states. 16 lakh cattle in 197 districts have been affected by this disease. The FAO has said that certain steps must be taken, like vaccinating the cattle, keeping the infected ones in isolation, etc.
Two Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions have developed a vaccine for LSD. The Indian government is planning to release it in the next 3 or 4 months. We hope the vaccine helps stop the spread of this disease.