The local government is not listening to us; our livelihood depends on animals,

The spread of lumpy skin disease has intensified in various areas of the District Bajaur, killing hundreds of animals daily and infecting hundreds of others. Since the epidemic, the vaccination is, however, not available in the district. The Livestock Department of Bajaur sent a request to the provincial Director of Livestock for 5000 doses, but a month has elapsed, and the vaccines are not yet arrived.

A large number of animals died of the Lumpy skin disease. So, the dwellers urge the Deputy Commissioner of Bajaur to contact the Director livestock in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to arrange a vaccination for the lumpy skin disease on an emergency basis. Half a decade before, medicine such as protective sprays: used to be distributed among the localities.

However, four years ago, the supply was frozen by the Department of Livestock in district Bajaur.The responsible department in district Bajaur claims they were not receiving medicine and sprays from the provincial government. Consequently, the disease is growing exponentially to a threatening level. To prevent losses in future for the residents, the Department of Livestock must declare an emergency in the Bajaur district and provide medicines and preventive sprays to residents of the affected areas.

The lumpy skin virus began to spread among cattle in and around Bajaur after Eid Ul Azha. The sickness had infected hundreds of animals, and scores of them had perished. Although the local livestock department claimed to have immunized 1500 animals, some farmers alleged that the vaccination was not readily available.

A farmer named Hameed Ullah Jan whose cattle died of this virus claimed that the virus has spread throughout the villages of Pashat, Teya, Mamudo, and Tofanshah. He said that “the virus had caused the deaths of numerous animals.” Another local cow owner claimed that “the livestock division began immunizing the animals of powerful landowners for free, while others were informed the vaccine was not available.” The former local owner also claimed that “despite numerous requests, the department’s doctors and officers had not yet checked their animals.”

According to a local social activist, the owners immunized their animals after paying huge costs. According to the responses received from local people, the people complain while saying that “The local government is not listening to us; our livelihood depends on animals, and the butchers were allegedly selling meat from sick animals for cheap”.

However, the Director of Livestock Department denies the complaints, while saying that, more than 1500 animals have received the vaccines against the Lumpy Skin disease in the district Bajaur”. He also informed the Bajaur Times that the lumpy skin virus had been discovered in 20 different locations throughout the neighborhood. In addition, he gave a brief detail about the virus that causes lumpy skin disease,

 However, he showed concern about the transmission of the virus between animals, as it’s not yet completely known. But he gave details according to his perspective, while saying that the mechanical transmission via arthropod vectors including mosquitoes, ticks, and flies as well as the movement of infected animals are the two main modes of infection. In some instances, the disease can also be transmitted directly from animal to animal or by fomites like infected equipment. The disease can transmit through reusing needles on various animals, contaminated feed, and water.

Furthermore, the virus can be isolated from blood, saliva, eye, and nasal discharge and is found in high concentrations in the skin nodules and scabs of animals with infection. The virus that causes lumpy skin disease can only be seen in the blood after its 21 days of stay in its host body.

Luqman hakeem

Department of social welfare, special education &women empowerment Khyber pukhtunkhwa.

Email: lukmanhakeem848@ gmail.com