Nine Active Lumpy Skin Disease Epicentres Identified Across Kashmir, 59 Cattle Affected

SRINAGAR: Nine active epicentres of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) have been identified across Kashmir, with 59 cattle affected, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir Government to intensify vaccination, surveillance and containment measures.The situation was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, with officials from the Animal Husbandry Department briefing him on the disease spread, vaccination coverage, medicines, testing and containment efforts.Of the 59 reported cases, 55 remain active, while no deaths have been reported so far. Ganderbal is the worst-affected district, accounting for 52 cases across seven active epicentres. Bandipora has reported three cases, while the remaining cases are from Srinagar.The minister directed officials to accelerate Lumpy Skin Disease vaccination, strengthen field surveillance and ensure timely treatment of affected livestock. He also called for greater coordination among veterinary teams and increased awareness among farmers.Officials were asked to maintain adequate stocks of medicines and vaccines and conduct door-to-door awareness campaigns to encourage early reporting of suspected cases.