Lumpy skin disease detected in Perak cattle
The state Department of Veterinary Services says the infection was detected among animals on a farm in Simpang Pulai.
Just In
The Perak Department of Veterinary Services (JPV) has detected the lumpy skin disease in cows and buffaloes on a farm in the state.
State Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Razman Zakaria said the discovery was made at a farm in Simpang Pulai.
He said JPV has been monitoring other farms in the state to ensure that infected cattle are not traded.
“The lumpy skin disease has been detected in several areas in Asia and recently here, too. It is being closely monitored by JPV and is under control,” he said at a press conference today.
He added that while the disease is spread through close contact with infected animals, it does not affect humans.
“The public shouldn’t panic because cattle for slaughter must be approved by JPV to ensure it is disease-free,” he said, adding that a penalty of RM25,000 awaits breeders under Section 31 (4)(a) of the Animals Act 1953 for selling the meat of a diseased animal.
Lumpy skin disease cases have been reported since 2019 in Bangladesh (July), India (August) and China (August), while in 2020 it was detected in Nepal (July) and Hong Kong (November), and this year in Sri Lanka (January) and Thailand (April).
Caused by a virus, its symptoms include fever, lymph node swelling and nodules on the skin and mucous membranes.
Subscribe to our newsletter
To be updated with all the latest news and analyses daily.
