The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched the indigenous vaccine Lumpi-ProVacInd to protect livestock from Lumpy Skin disease.
- The vaccine has been developed by the National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar (Bareilly).
- Ever since the disease came to India in 2019, research institutes have been engaged in developing the vaccine.
About Lumpy Skin disease
- The infection is caused by the Capripox virus – which is genetically similar to the viruses that cause goat pox and sheep pox.
- The virus has been termed “an emerging threat to livestock worldwide” by health partnership Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Experts have said it is likely to infects cows at a higher rate than buffalos.
- The disease was endemic in many African countries for years, and has spread to other parts of the world over the years.
- According to an FAO report, the disease first appeared in South Asia in July 2019, with Bangladesh reporting an outbreak. A month later, it was identified in India – which has the world’s largest bovine population – and China.
- The infection is usually transmitted by some species of mosquitoes, ticks and other blood-feeding insects.
