Punjab launches mass vaccination drive against lumpy skin disease

Punjab Government is all set to inoculate as many as 25 lakhs bovines as a preventive measure against the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), disclosed Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, Punjab, while informing that the vaccination drive will be commenced from February 25.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Additional Chief Secretary Animal Husbandry Mr. Vikas Pratap, was reviewing ongoing projects and functioning of the department here at Punjab Bhawan.

The Cabinet Minister said that now, the Goat Pox vaccine is being repeated for the third time as a booster dose to a preventive measure against the disease. Notably, following the outbreak of LSD across the country in last year, the vaccination drive against LSD was carried out for cattle in the state. He also asked the officials to ensure the smooth transportation of the vaccination, besides, maintaining cold chain efficiently.

Emphasising on the need to make a foolproof mechanism to save livestock from diseases, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian directed the department officials to make a comprehensive vaccination action plan within a month. He also directed the field staff of the department to sensitise the livestock farmers about the benefits of the different immunisation drives and involve the district administration and panchayats in this noble cause to prevent the livestock from different diseases.

ACS Mr. Vikas Pratap apprised the cabinet minister that deworming drive is being carried out across the state at a cost of around Rs 6.37 crore. The drive will conclude on February 10. Apart from this, medicines worth Rs 1.56 crore have already been sent to Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries of the state. He also informed that the department has recently completed the mass immunisation drive against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Gursharanjit Singh Bedi, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’s Director of Clinics Dr. S. S Randhawa, HOD Veterinary Medicine Dr Ashwani Kumar, Principal Scientist & Incharge Animal Diseases Research Centre, Dr. M. S. Bal, Principal Scientist, Animal Diseases Research Centre Dr. Vishal Mahajan, Director Centre for One Health Dr. J S Bedi and districts officials of Animal Husbandry department were also present in the meeting.