Web Desk — It has now been declared that the lumpy skin disease in the cattle is not transmittable to humans, according to a research report by the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi, Pakistan.

The AKUH experts on Thursday declared that an animal infected with lumpy skin disease “does not cause human disease.” The AKUH report is a sigh of relief after weeks of growing anxiety and fear among people, mainly in the urban centers of Sindh.

The report has concluded after a detailed study that humans are not affected by eating meat or drinking the milk of the cattle infected with the disease.

According to the Sindh livestock department, as many as 54 animals have died due to the lumpy skin disease besides infecting over 2000 animals, including 15,100 in Karachi alone.

The AKUH Karachi research team had already started working as the lumpy skin disease reached Pakistan. The renowned institution’s report entitled “Emerging Infection Alert: Lumpy Skin Disease”, recommends food safety and the use of all proper precautions, such as using only pasteurized or well-boiled milk and its byproducts, and cooking meat thoroughly.

Throwing light on the cause of its spread, the report says that the lumpy skin disease possibly spreads in the cattle through insect bites and contact with secretions, lesions, and fomites.

Is Lumpy Skin Threat To Humans?

Lumpy skin is not a human disease. The most relevant part of the study for consumers was shared under the title “Threat to Human”, under which the institution answered almost every crucial question. “Minimal to none,” said the first point of the study.

Consuming meat or milk does not transmit the infection to humans,” it said.

However, the AKUH report added, in order to prevent other infections, food safety should be ensured which included consumption of only pasteurized or well-boiled milk and milk products, thorough cooking of meat, and proper washing of hands with soap and water after handling meat.

Earlier, while opening its alert, the AKUH made it clear: “lumpy skin is an infection of cattle and does not cause human disease.”

The Sindh Livestock department found that the disease had appeared in animals in Punjab and Sindh.

Lumpy Skin Vaccination

The worried farmers of Sindh and Punjab have complained that the vaccination for the treatment of lumpy skin disease ‘Lumpyvax – DILUENT’ is being sold in black for PKR 70-80,000.

Lumpy Skin Disease in Chicken

The lumpy skin disease or the cow skin disease has yet not been identified in the chicken.

Sindh Livestock Department’s Measures and Directions

The Sindh government closed down cattle markets across the province because of an outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) caused by a vector-borne virus.

Sindh government officials have ordered the closure of cattle markets and advised consumers not to consume meat or milk from infected animals.

Cattle owners were also advised to separate sick animals from healthy ones and frequently use an anti-mosquito spray to prevent LSD from spreading.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is spread by spit and insects, says the department.

According to experts, the disease is new to the region, so there is no existing vaccine that can be used against it.

The fast spread of the disease and no vaccine has forced the department of livestock to temporarily shut down cattle markets across Sindh.