AMTALI, BARGUNA, June 27: More than 150 cattle-heads have died of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Amtali Upazila of Barguna, while thousands more cattle and buffaloes have been infected with the viral disease, leaving farmers facing heavy financial losses.
Livestock officials said the upazila has around 174,170 livestock, including 140,700 cows, 13,850 buffaloes and 19,620 goats.
According to the Department of Livestock Services, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) began in mid-May across all seven unions of the upazila, affecting cows, buffaloes and goats. Towards the end of the month, lumpy skin disease also spread rapidly among cattle.
Officials said around 5,000 cattle-heads have so far been infected with lumpy skin disease, while more than 150 have died. Foot-and-mouth disease has affected between 15,000 and 18,000 cows and buffaloes, although no deaths from the disease have been reported.
A visit to several villages, including Haldia, Kukua, Chawra, Manikjhuri, Chhurikata, Tarikata and South-West Amtali, found large numbers of cattle and buffaloes suffering from the two diseases.
Sajjad Hossain of Chhurikata village said he lost three cattle worth about Tk 2 lakh to lumpy skin disease.
"I have become destitute after losing my cattle," he said.
Yasin of Locha Village said one of his cattle, valued at around Tk 1 lakh, had died of the disease.
Nurjaman Jomaddar of South-West Amtali said one of his cattle died after developing a high fever and large skin nodules, a common symptom of lumpy skin disease.
Farmers said affected animals initially become lethargic and develop a high fever. In cases of foot-and-mouth disease, excessive salivation and painful sores in the mouth and hooves prevent the animals from eating, leaving them weak.
Dr Md Rokonuzzaman, Livestock Extension Officer of Amtali Upazila, said around 5,000 cattle had been infected with lumpy skin disease, of which more than 150 had died.
He added that between 15,000 and 18,000 cattle and buffaloes had contracted foot-and-mouth disease, but no deaths had been reported from the infection.
Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Mir Md Ashik Babu said both diseases are caused by viruses and have spread widely across the upazila.
He said there is no specific treatment for either disease, although veterinary hospitals provide medicines to reduce fever and relieve itching.
