More than 10,000 cattle have been infected with lumpy skin disease in a year in the district. 

In recent months, 142 infected cattle have died. According to Shital Bhattarai, chief of Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Technical Center, Jhapa, vaccination campaigns are going on in all 15 local levels in the district to control the disease. 

So far, 58,000 animals have been vaccinated in the district.  She also shared that the highest cases were recorded in Mechinagar Municipality and Bahradashi Rural Municipality.  

Chief Bhattarai mentioned that the infection of Lumpy Skin Disease was spreading with the rise in temperature. "The disease spreads due to the bites of mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and other insects," she added, "We are conducting a free vaccination campaign reaching every farmer's shed for disease control."

Moreover, 77,500 doses of vaccine have arrived in the district from the Department of Livestock and Fishery Development. The affected cattle show the symptoms as fever, lumps in various parts of the body and internal layers, fluid emanating from the lumps, and abscess formation. 

The Center Chief Bhattarai further shared that this problem was not observed in the cattle that were vaccinated in the past. So, the risk is only significant in the newly born calves and imported cattle. In the current fiscal year 2081/82, they conducted observations at 72 farms in the district to address infertility issues in cattle by organizing integrated camps. 

During the period, 13 households claimed damages to livestock due to natural disasters. Based on those claims, the office has been providing relief amounts ranging from Rs 6,000 to 78,000.