96,000 cattle vaccinated against lumpy skin disease in Bagmati

KATHMANDU: Bagmati Province has intensified efforts to curb the rapid spread of lumpy skin disease (LSD) among cattle, with more than 96,347 cows and buffaloes vaccinated during a week-long immunization campaign.

The disease, which has recently spread rapidly in Chitwan district, causes nodules and blisters on the skin, high fever, swelling, reduced milk production, and general weakness in affected animals.

The vaccination drive was first launched in Lalitpur and later extended to all 13 districts of the province, according to Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Madhusudan Paudel.

District-wise, the campaign has already vaccinated:

• Sindhuli: 10,328

• Ramechhap: 4,437

• Kathmandu: 4,350

• Lalitpur: 3,606

• Bhaktapur: 1,543

• Dhading: 6,051

• Kavrepalanchok: 7,698

• Nuwakot: 7,724

• Rasuwa: 3,634

• Dolakha: 9,982

• Sindhupalchok: 6,284

• Chitwan: 6,015

• Makwanpur: 24,695

According to ministry data, Bagmati Province is home to 694,217 cows and 549,182 buffaloes, producing a combined 481,771 metric tons of milk annually.

Chitwan ranks as the province’s top milk-producing district, with 92,256 cows and 72,200 buffaloes across its seven local units.

The vaccination campaign is ongoing, Minister Paudel confirmed.

In the fiscal year 2080/81, the province lost 11,218 cows and buffaloes to LSD.

During the same period, 37,089 animals were infected and over 256,759 were directly or indirectly affected. Prior to this week-long campaign, an additional 245,222 cattle had already been vaccinated across the province.