The what, where and why of lumpy skin disease explained

Lumpy skin disease has locked a significant number of Aussie cattle out of Indonesia for the time being. But what is it and what does it mean for the animals that contract it?

Cattle with lumpy skin disease show lesions on their skin and mean production losses.

Australian authorities maintain the nation’s cattle are free of lumpy skin disease, a condition that affects herds across the world including Indonesia.

WHAT IS LUMPY SKIN DISEASE?

LSD is a viral disease which is not usually fatal but causes production losses due to fever, depression and skin lesions which give the condition its name. It can also cause reduced milk production and abortion of unborn calves.

Red Meat Advisory Council chairman John McKillop told The Weekly Times the chances of an incursion of LSD were very low due to the fact that the insects had to be carrying the virus and bite the same animal up to 20 times for it to be infected.

He said the virus did not multiply in the vector.

The other chance of spread into Australia by being carried on a boat was also remote, Mr McKillop said, as there was little chance of the virus remaining viable for three to four days in this way.

WHERE IS LSD FOUND?

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, in 2015 LSD was already endemic in most of Africa, some countries in the Middle East, Turkey, many of the Balkan countries, and the Russian Federation.

Since 2019, the organisation reported there had been outbreaks in Bangladesh, India, China, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and in 2022, Indonesia.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT IS FOUND IN AUSTRALIA?

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said LSD had no implications for human health.

But it said it would employ a culling program should the disease be found here.

“Australia would opt for a humane destruction approach if the disease occurred here,” the DAFF website said.

“This would see any affected cattle or buffalo disposed of under strict biosecurity processes, and not enter our food chain.”

If livestock are showing signs of lumpy skin disease, immediately call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888