Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreak Devastates Cattle Farmers in Assam

Guwahati: Lumpy skin disease is tearing through villages in Chhaygaon, Assam. Cattle are dying in high numbers. The viral outbreak has crippled the primary income source for many local farming households who rely on dairy and agriculture to survive.

Farmers are reeling from mounting costs. They face high treatment fees for sick animals and the total loss of valuable livestock. Residents claim the government failed to act early. They say vaccination programs arrived too late or missed vulnerable spots entirely. Some farmers argue that a faster response would have stopped the virus in its tracks.

The region is suffering from a massive shortage of veterinary staff. Help is often slow to reach remote areas. Desperate owners are now demanding more medicine, better staffing, and direct financial aid to offset their ruined livelihoods.

Dr. Manashjyoti Thakuria, the veterinary officer for the Chhaygaon Block, admitted his team is stretched thin. He says they are working to treat animals despite the lack of manpower. He warned that owners must speak up fast to stop the spread. "The department has been actively monitoring the outbreak and providing treatment to affected animals," he stated.

Locals want more than just words. They want a massive ramp-up in surveillance and help from the state. Until then, they keep waiting for vaccines while their herds continue to dwindle.