Actively vaccinate buffaloes and cows to prevent lumpy skin disease
(Baonghean.vn) - With the participation of specialized agencies, the outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in buffaloes and cows that occurred in Nghe An in the past have been promptly controlled on a small scale. However, it is forecasted that the disease will appear in buffaloes and cows in the near future, so farmers need to proactively vaccinate their livestock.
Do not let the epidemic spread
According to the report of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Nghe An, in 2021, there were 353 outbreaks in the province and in the first months of 2022, there were 3 outbreaks.Lumpy skin disease in cattle and buffaloes, causing the death of many buffaloes and cows. However, thanks to the close and drastic direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the synchronous participation of specialized agencies and localities in disease prevention and control, the outbreaks have been controlled on a small scale.
Mr. Dang Van Minh - Head of the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine said that despite many difficulties due to the large area, buffalo and cattle raising in small-scale, free-range forms is the main, especially in mountainous districts, so disease surveillance and vaccination implementation are facing many disadvantages. In particular, in 2020 - 2021, there is no longer a commune veterinary position, many districts and communes do not have contracts, cannot arrange veterinary staff, so implementing disease prevention and control work is facing many difficulties. However, specialized agencies have proactively surrounded and controlled outbreaks.
 |
| The practice of letting buffalo and cows roam freely in the mountains by highland people makes it difficult to prevent lumpy skin disease. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
With the motto of vaccinationVaccineis the most effective and economical solution in disease prevention and control. In 2021, the whole province has organized vaccination of 249,210 doses of lumpy skin disease vaccine, thanks to which, currently, outbreaks have been controlled, not arising and spreading. Propaganda work on lumpy skin disease prevention and control on information channels is maintained regularly; many training sessions are organized for People's Committees of districts, cities, towns, and related sectors on vaccination, disease prevention and control.
Through inspection work in localities, it shows that most districts have proactively advised and issued plans to prevent and control livestock diseases; disseminated information on disease symptoms, prevention and control methods; carried out vaccination, disinfection and sterilization according to the province's plan; had refrigerators to preserve vaccines; settled the source of vaccines and chemicals provided in accordance with the instructions of the professional sector; proactively monitored epidemics and controlled them promptly; and established inspection teams for epidemic prevention and control work in communes.
To proactively prevent and control lumpy skin disease in buffaloes and cows, on December 30, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 5197/QD-UBND approving the Plan for prevention and control of lumpy skin disease in buffaloes and cows in Nghe An province, period 2022-2030. Up to now, 21/21 districts, cities and towns have developed and issued a Plan for disease prevention and control for the period 2022-2030. At the same time, the districts supported with vaccines to prevent and control the epidemic have fully implemented vaccination, ensuring compliance with the instructions. In addition, the districts and communes have allocated budgets and livestock households have spent their own money to buy vaccines for vaccination, so the epidemic has been basically controlled so far.
In propaganda work, most districts carry out propaganda in the form of district television, district and commune radio, integrating training courses to the people, some districts produce reports and special topics. Units that carry out propaganda work well, such as Vinh City, Anh Son, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong, Quy Chau, Ky Son, Tan Ky, Quynh Luu,...
Continue to do a good job of disease prevention and control
To effectively implement the 2022 Lumpy Skin Disease Prevention and Control Plan, first of all, the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine advises, directs, and performs well the following tasks: Advises the Provincial People's Committee to allocate funds to purchase vaccines to vaccinate against emergency epidemics for buffalo and cow herds when epidemics occur in the province. Coordinates with localities to be proactive in disease prevention and control according to the annual plan. Promotes information and propaganda, professional training on lumpy skin disease prevention and control, and disease safety. Focuses on directing vaccination work for buffalo and cow herds to achieve a rate of ≥80% of the total herd subject to vaccination. Take samples to determine the circulation of lumpy skin disease to forecast early epidemics.
 |
| The most effective solution to prevent lumpy skin disease is for farmers to vaccinate their buffalo and cows. Photo: Quang An |
Experts recommend that there is currently no specific treatment for lumpy skin disease; therefore, farmers need to vaccinate their cattle and buffalo as the most proactive and effective measure to prevent the disease; along with cleaning the barns, destroying ticks, gnats, flies, and mosquitoes. When buffalo and cattle are found to be sick or suspected of being sick, they need to be kept in confinement, isolated and treated to prevent the spread of the disease, and at the same time, notify local authorities to coordinate with specialized agencies to promptly prevent and control the disease.
Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine commented: With the largest herd of buffalo and cows in the country of 772,000, the volume of trade and transportation through the province is very large. Therefore, lumpy skin disease can occur in buffalo and cow herds at any time, especially in the wet months, creating conditions for insects (flies, mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, etc.) to breed and develop. Therefore, the specialized sector continues to train and improve the capacity of veterinary staff in disease prevention and control; build facilities and disease-safe areas. At the same time, the Provincial People's Committee needs to promptly allocate funds to implement the program, especially funds to purchase vaccines to handle emergency epidemics in accordance with the plan issued by the Provincial People's Committee.
For the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns, it is necessary to arrange funds to ensure the implementation of epidemic prevention and control tasks. In particular, it is necessary to strengthen information and propaganda work so that people know and coordinate with functional agencies in epidemic prevention and control. Encourage buffalo and cow farms: Build facilitiesepidemic safetyfor lumpy skin disease. At the same time, localities directed breeders to buy vaccines to vaccinate buffalo and cow herds; at the same time, based on Resolution No. 23/2021/NQ-HDND, urgently directed the People's Committees at the commune level to arrange non-professional workers to take on the positioncommune veterinaryto organize well the work of vaccination, disease prevention and control in 2022.
 |
| Lumpy skin disease is easily seen on the body of a cow. Photo: Archive |
Buffaloes and cows when sickinflammationembossed skinlumpSymptoms include high fever, possibly above 41°C, loss of appetite, weakness and emaciation, decreased milk production in lactating animals; rhinitis, conjunctivitis and increased salivation; swelling of the superficial lymph nodes (prescapular, retrofemoral).Some cases of swelling of the leg joints; the body has nodules with a diameter of 1 - 5 cm.
