Latest news with #GoatPox
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Restrictions imposed to prevent spread of lumpy skin disease among cattle
Pune: To check growing outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) among cattle in Pune district, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday declared strict restrictions for the city. The disease, which affects bovine animals (excluding buffaloes), has been spreading across nine talukas in the district, said officials. Karad, India - Sept. 6, 2022: A cow suffering from lumpy skin disease at Wagheri Village in Karad, India, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Many animals have got the lumpy skin disease in the village and two cows have died. (HT PHOTO) Suspected samples tested by the Regional Disease Investigation Laboratory in Aundh, Pune, have confirmed positive cases of contagious viral infection LSD. Jitendra Dudi, district collector and chairman of District Disaster Management Authority, has declared the district a 'controlled area' under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009. PMC circular issued on Friday urges cattle owners, dairy farmers, NGOs and animal traders within the city limits to strictly follow the guidelines under the 2009 Animal Disease Control Act. As per the orders, sale, purchase, or participation of cattle (excluding buffaloes) in markets, races, fairs, or exhibitions will only be permitted if the animals are vaccinated with the Goat Pox vaccine at least 28 days in advance, and are accompanied by a valid vaccination certificate and health report from a certified veterinarian. Movement of infected or exposed animals, fodder, hides, or related materials has been prohibited. Dudi has ordered ring vaccination within a 5-kilometre radius of infection zones, deployment of additional veterinary staff where manpower is lacking, and strict implementation of barn sanitation, biosecurity protocols, and disinfection. He also appealed to cattle owners to immediately report suspected cases and seek treatment via the toll-free number 1962. 'LSD can be effectively contained with prompt treatment of infected animals, rigorous biosecurity, and 100% vaccination in affected areas. We have learned from past experiences that strict adherence to these measures prevents the disease from spreading further,' he said. Dr Nina Borade, health chief, PMC, said, 'As per a central government advisory, local bodies, including municipal corporations, councils, and gram panchayats, are implementing insect control programmes to curb the spread of disease through biting insects. Veterinary officials are closely monitoring the situation, and all necessary steps are being taken to contain the disease.' Dr Ankush Parihar, deputy commissioner of animal husbandry, Pune said the cattle population in the district is 8.46 lakh. In the ongoing 2025-26 vaccination drive, 5.80 lakh doses of the Goat Pox vaccine have been distributed and 5.70 lakh animals have been vaccinated. Additional doses are being procured to cover the remaining and newly affected areas. The district has reported 906 LSD cases in cattle till July 22, with 591 animals recovering after treatment and 15 deaths. Currently, 300 animals are under medical care, with the number steadily increasing. The worst-hit talukas include Shirur, Ambegaon, and Junnar. (With agency inputs)
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak in Pune district, can reduce milk production
With over 900 cattle infected with Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and more cases emerging daily, Pune district is staring at a potential decline in milk supply. Animal husbandry officials said that the spread of LSD – which affects cattle health – has been reported in 122 epicentres of the district, and can significantly reduce milk production. Pune district, with over 8.46 lakh cattle as per the 20th livestock Census, is a major contributor to milk production. An outbreak on a large scale could disturb both the rural economy and urban milk supply chains, officials said. LSD is economically important for producers as it can cause a temporary reduction in milk production, impact fertility, damage hides, and result in the death of cattle in severe cases. Besides, a ban has been imposed on transport from or within the controlled area of live/dead bovine animals infected with LSD. (HT) Considering this, Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi on Tuesday called a review meeting with district animal husbandry officer Dr Vishnu Garje, assistant commissioners, and taluka-level officers. Dudi said, 'To contain the spread, vaccination must be carried out within a five-kilometre radius of infected areas.' He instructed that in areas facing shortage, additional personnel should be deployed from other talukas or departments. In an order issued the same day, Dudi stated that it will be mandatory to possess a vaccination certificate showing that the bovine animals (cattle) and other related species (excluding buffaloes) being transported within or outside the controlled area have received the preventive Goat Pox vaccine at least 28 days before movement. Besides, a ban has been imposed on transport from or within the controlled area of live/dead bovine animals infected with LSD; any fodder, shelter grass, or other material that has come in contact with such infected animals; or their carcasses, hides, body parts, or any product/s derived from them. Dudi has directed that infected cattle receive immediate treatment and that biosecurity measures—including disinfection, cleanliness in cattle sheds, and use of sanitising sprays—be strictly enforced to prevent further spread of the disease. Furthermore, for the sale or purchase of bovine animals in markets, it will be mandatory to produce a vaccination certificate showing the animal as having received the Goat Pox vaccine at least 28 days prior as well as a health certificate from a veterinary officer. Additionally, during animal fairs, exhibitions or other such events involving bovine animals, it will be mandatory for all participating animals to have a vaccination certificate (Goat Pox vaccine taken at least 28 days prior) and a health certificate from a veterinary officer. So far, 906 animals across the district have been infected with the virus. Of these, 591 have recovered with treatment whereas 15 have reportedly died. Currently, as many as 300 cattle are undergoing treatment. The virus continues to spread, with the highest number of cases reported from Shirur, Ambegaon and Junnar talukas, said officials. Following a rise in LSD cases in cattle, Pune district has been declared as an affected area as per the Prevention and Control of Animal Infections and Communicable Diseases Act 2009. Deputy commissioner of animal husbandry Dr Ankush Parihar said that the district received 5.80 lakh vaccine doses during 2025-26 of which, 5.70 lakh doses have already been used. Additional vaccines are being procured and distributed, especially in areas with fresh outbreaks or where livestock remains unvaccinated. However, as per animal husbandry officials, the current outbreak appears to be mild with rapid treatment having helped recovery in a majority of cases. Adequate medicines are available at all government veterinary centres. Under the chief minister's animal health scheme and a centrally-sponsored scheme, six mobile veterinary teams are providing doorstep treatment to affected livestock, officials said.
Business Wire
22-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Seek Labs Announces Inclusion of Veterinary Diseases in Global Disease Atlas, Accelerating Development of Therapeutics to Bolster Global Protein Supply Chains
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seek Labs, a biotech company boldly seeking a healthier world through AI-powered discovery, programmable therapeutics, and point-of-care diagnostics, today announced the inclusion of veterinary pathogens in its Global Disease Atlas, tackling head-on one of global health's most pressing challenges: safeguarding protein supply chains, which remain exposed to both endemic and emerging biological diseases. These threats directly undermine the resilience of food systems and lead to protein shortages, price volatility, and supply chain destabilization, causing billions in economic losses through culling, trade bans, and supply disruptions. African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), Capripox (Lumpy Skin Disease, Sheep Pox, Goat Pox), and Classical Swine Fever (CSFV) are among the diseases already mapped by Seek Labs' BioSeeker™ discovery engine to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics. African Swine Fever (ASFV), Capripox (Lumpy Skin Disease, Sheep Pox, Goat Pox), and Classical Swine Fever (CSFV) are among the diseases already mapped by Seek Labs' BioSeeker™ discovery engine to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics. Share From Genomic Mapping to Therapeutic Design: How BioSeeker Powers the Programmable Target Ablation Platform (PTAP) BioSeeker™ scans thousands of publicly available genomic sequences to identify high-potential, PTAP-compatible targets essential for viral replication. These mapped targets form a blueprint intended to guide development of programmable, CRISPR-based 'seek-and-destroy' therapeutics that target the pathogen at its genetic core. This adaptability includes targeting both RNA and DNA viruses. Progress in Veterinary Therapeutic Programs with PTAP African Swine Fever Virus African Swine Fever Virus represents an ongoing crisis that has caused over $100 billion in global economic losses, repeatedly disrupting pork production, which is a critical protein source worldwide. Seek Labs has developed an ASFV therapeutic candidate that successfully completed in vivo trials, demonstrating an increase from 0% survival to nearly 60% survival in animals challenged with lethal doses of the pandemic strain. 'Our in vivo ASFV trials demonstrated the first successful study in a veterinary model using a programmable therapeutic against a high-consequence foreign animal disease, showing our adaptable platform could be engineered as a countermeasure for other viral threats,' said Douglas Gladue, Seek Labs' VP of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development. Capripox Viruses (Lumpy Skin Disease, Sheep and Goat Pox) Capripox viruses cause widespread livestock outbreaks across continents, with cumulative losses estimated at over $1 billion globally in the past decade due to culling, trade bans, and production declines. These closely related pathogens—including Lumpy Skin Disease, Sheep Pox, and Goat Pox—belong to the same viral family (Capripox) and share highly conserved genomic regions. BioSeeker has identified targets supporting a potential pan-Capripox therapeutic to combat outbreaks across regions. Classical Swine Fever (CSFV) Classical Swine Fever (CSFV) is a persistent, highly contagious transboundary threat that has caused over $5 billion in estimated global economic losses in recent decades through trade restrictions, mass culling, and costly eradication campaigns. Together, these veterinary targets demonstrate Seek Labs' capacity to rapidly design, develop, and deliver programmable solutions for diverse, high-consequence threats with PTAP. This cross-species capability not only supports animal health but also strengthens global bio-surveillance and control infrastructure. Partnering for a Holistic Global Health Solution The inclusion of veterinary pathogens underscores Seek Labs' commitment to global health by recognizing the interdependence of human and animal health. By building a robust, partner-ready repository of mapped genomic targets and combining BioSeeker's precision mapping with its Programmable Target Ablation Platform, the company offers partners an efficient path to advance next-generation veterinary therapeutics. Seek Labs invites qualified partners to help deliver transformative solutions that improve health outcomes worldwide, strengthen food security infrastructure, and address a rapidly growing market need. About Seek Labs At Seek Labs, we don't wait for change—we build it. We're pursuing the breakthroughs the world can't wait for by developing programmable 'seek-and-destroy' therapeutics and point-of-care molecular diagnostics that close the gap between outbreak and intervention. At the core of this mission is a layered architecture: BioSeeker™ serves as the Intelligence Layer, continuously mapping conserved viral vulnerabilities in real time; these insights activate our Deployment Layers (PTAP™ for programmable therapeutics and SeekIt™ for molecular diagnostics), forming a full-stack development engine designed to accelerate response, innovation, and impact across global health. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Seek Labs is a proud member of BioHive, Utah's collaborative life sciences ecosystem. Together with our partners, we're building faster, smarter solutions for the world's most urgent health challenges. Forward-Looking Statements and Regulatory Disclaimer This press release includes forward-looking statements about Seek Labs' technologies, development plans, and partnership opportunities. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. The technologies described are investigational and have not been reviewed or approved by the FDA or any other regulatory authority for clinical or commercial use.
