India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that local scientists have developed a vaccine to control lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle.
Speaking at the International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit 2022 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Modi expressed concern about livestock diseases and termed them a major threat because it impacts farmers’ income, as well as affecting milk production and quality.
The prime minister said that efforts are being made to track the movement of animals in order to contain the spread of the virus.
"Our scientists have prepared [an] indigenous vaccine for lumpy skin disease," Modi said on Monday, adding that his government was also committed to a 100 percent foot and mouth disease livestock vaccination by 2025.
LSD is transmitted to cattle by blood-sucking insects, such as certain species of flies, mosquitoes and ticks. It causes fever and skin nodules, and can be fatal.
At least seven Indian states and union territories are currently grappling with outbreaks.
Uttar Pradesh state chief Yogi Adityanath, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, along with Minister of State Sanjeev Balyan all attended the dairy summit, alongside a congregation of global and Indian dairy stakeholders including industry leaders, experts, farmers and policy planners, on the theme of 'Dairy for Nutrition and Livelihood'.
Around 1,500 participants from 50 countries are attending the event.