UN’s FAO to Vaccinate Cattle Against Lumpy Skin Disease

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations pledged to provide Lumpy Skin Disease vaccination for cattle in Afghanistan.

A representative of FAO in Afghanistan said that they will implement the vaccination process in three stages throughout Afghanistan.

“This disease caused major economic damage for farmers in the milk production and dairy section,” said Mohammad Aqa, a local representative of the FAO.

“This vaccine will be implemented in three stages. In the first stage, 125,000 doses will be provided for cattle farms. In the second stage, 350,000 doses will be provided to the provinces. In the last and third stage, more than 250 million doses will be distributed throughout Afghanistan,” said Mawlawi Sadr Azam, deputy minister of agriculture and livestock.

Farmers welcomed the implementation of the vaccination program, saying they lost cattle due to this disease.

“70 percent of the cows are lost, and another 30 percent are at sick,” said Basheer, a representative of the farmers in Logar.

A union of cattle owners in Afghanistan said that because of the delay in implementing the vaccination they have suffered huge financial losses.

“Cows affected by Lumpy Skin Disease have been vaccinated, there are more diseases that threaten cows,” said Ghafar Khan, union head.

According to the FAO, Lumpy Skin Disease was initially reported in Khost, Paktia and Paktika and that around 1,500 cows have been lost so far.