The animal husbandry and veterinary services department in Mangaluru is struggling to manage the increasing number of cases of lumpy skin disease among cattle in Dakshina Kannada district. The department is shortstaffed and the district has reported 1699 cases of the disease and 32 deaths as of Thursday. Treatment is being given to 1206 cattle. The district has only 28 veterinary doctors working in the district and the posts of 25 veterinarians remain vacant. The district has 107 veterinary hospitals with a sanctioned workforce of 448, but only 94 employees are working and 354 positions remain vacant. The department noticed lumpy skin disease in the district when three cattle in a house at Boliyoor village of Bantwal taluk were infected in the second week of October. Capripoxvirus transmits the disease from infected cattle to healthy ones. Dr. Arun Kumar Shetty, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services told TOI that the department has been managing the disease control program along with other routine works this is being done with a meager workforce. "We have already completed vaccination against the disease for 133891 out of 252401 cattle in the district. The vaccination drive is being continued to cover the remaining cattle. An average of 6000 – 7000 doses
