Lumpy skin disease resurfaces in Thatta, threatening livestock

An alarming resurgence of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has struck several areas of Thatta district, affecting dozens of cattle and raising fears of a repeat of the devastating losses suffered in recent years. Local livestock owners say the Animal Husbandry Department has failed to establish emergency camps or deploy mobile treatment teams to the affected villages.
Lumpy Skin Disease, first reported in Africa in the early 20th century, is a viral infection caused by the Capripoxvirus. It spreads rapidly among cattle, primarily through mosquitoes, biting flies, ticks, and direct contact with infected animals. The disease causes high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and painful skin nodules, leading to drastic drops in milk production, infertility, and in severe cases, death.
In Pakistan, LSD made its first appearance in 2021, when it swept across Sindh and other provinces, killing thousands of cattle and causing losses worth millions of rupees. Thatta was among the worst-hit districts, with many livestock-dependent families pushed into financial hardship.
Farmers now fear history is repeating itself. They warn that without immediate vaccination drives, strict quarantine measures, and effective vector control, the outbreak could spiral out of control.
Animal owners have appealed to higher authorities to hold negligent local livestock officials accountable and to urgently send veterinary teams across the district to save their animals from this fast-spreading and economically crippling disease.