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19, August, 2022

 

 

Topic: E-Governance in Punjab

 

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

  • Patiala Development Authority (PDA) is conducting e-auction of residential and commercial sites situated in different cities i.e. Patiala, Sangrur, Nabha and Amargarh.

 

Housing and Urban Development Department said that:

  • This is an opportunity to own a house or start a business in these cities.
(Source: Punjab Government)

 

 

Topic: Agri-subsidiary sector in Punjab

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

  • Gauging the immense potential in agri-subsidiary sectors in the state of Punjab, the delegation of the Oklahoma State University of United States of America, called on the Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar for providing and developing the latest services and technology.

 

Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar shared:

  • The university is keen to develop the latest vaccine and technology in animal husbandry sector.

 

Representatives from University shared:

  • University wants to help the state in developing new vaccines and the latest technology for the prevention of animal and zoonotic diseases.
  • Apart from this, the university will design training programs for veterinary officers of the state about livestock treatment, surgery, diagnostic center, surveillance, data collection besides conducting student exchange programs.
(Source: Punjab Government)

 

 

Topic: Lumpy skin disease amongst animals

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

  • Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today gave announced to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) for effective monitoring and control of the lumpy skin disease amongst animals in the state on a day to day basis.
  • The Chief Minister also announced to launch a massive vaccination drive to save the animals from this disease. He said that the vaccination will be given to the animals free of cost adding that there is no dearth of funds for this. Bhagwant Mann unequivocally said that the best recommended medicine by Government of India (GoI) has been brought for this purpose and more vaccination, if required, will be airlifted.

 

 

What is the Lumpy Skin Disease?

  • According to a report by GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) disease is caused by a virus called the Capripoxvirus and is “an emerging threat to livestock worldwide”. It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family.
  • LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood-feeding insects. Signs of infection include the appearance of circular, firm nodes on the animal’s hide or skin that look similar to lumps.
  • Infected animals immediately start losing weight and may have fever and lesions in the mouth, along with a reduced milk yield. Other symptoms include excessive nasal and salivary secretion. Pregnant cows and buffaloes often suffer miscarriage and in some cases, diseased animals can die due to it as well.

 

Have such outbreaks occurred earlier and are humans at risk?

  • This is not the first time LSD has been detected in India. The disease has been endemic in most African countries, and since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the Middle East, Southeast Europe and West and Central Asia. Since 2019, several outbreaks of LSD have been reported in Asia. In May this year, Pakistan’s Punjab also reported the deaths of over 300 cows due to LSD.

 

Why have Africa, Asia saw so many dangerous viruses emerge recently?

In September 2020, a strain of the virus was discovered in Maharashtra. Gujarat too has reported cases over the last few years sporadically, but currently, the point of concern is the number of deaths being reported, and whether vaccination catches up to the rate at which the disease is spreading.

  • According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), of which India is a member, mortality rates of 1 to 5 per cent are considered usual. The disease is not zoonotic, meaning it does not spread from animals to humans, and humans cannot get infected with it.
  • While the virus does not spread to humans, “milk produced by an infected animal will be fit for human consumption after boiling or pasteurisation as these processes will kill the viruses, if any, in the milk”, said Prof J B Kathiriya, Assistant Professor with the department of veterinary public health and epidemiology of Kamdhenu University’s College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in Junagadh.

 

How can the spread of the disease be prevented?

  • Successful control and eradication of LSD relies on “early detection followed by a rapid and widespread vaccination campaign”, as per the WOAH. Once an animal has recovered, it is well protected and cannot be the source of infection for other animals.
(Source: Indian Express)