Since it initially appeared in eight states in April, the lumpy skin illness is believed to have killed roughly 100,000 cows and buffaloes, but more cattle are still falling victim despite a significant vaccination effort, officials added.
According to statistics provided by the states, about 68,000 animals have died, a ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy official said on condition of anonymity. Reports from the states, however, imply that the number might be greater.
According to a representative of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the illness remained largely contained to eastern regions of the nation after being discovered in Odisha in 2019. This year, it expanded quickly to practically all the states, peaking in June, July, and August.
Dairy farmers continue to suffer financial losses as a result of the outbreak, particularly small farmers who depend on milch cattle to augment their earnings. Blood-feeding insects disseminate the capripoxvirus infection, which it causes.