PHC asks govt to ramp up efforts against lumpy skin disease.

PESHAWAR -- The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday directed the livestock department to ramp up efforts to stem the spread of lumpy skin disease among cattle in the province ahead of Eidul Azha and produce a detailed report on it.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan and Justice Syed Arshad Ali was informed by director-general of the livestock department Dr Alamzeb that around 8,000 head of cattle had so far been infected with the viral disease in the province, while the deaths from it totalled 203.

The court told him that as Eidul Azha was round the corner and the people would visit cattle markets in large numbers to buy sacrificial animals, the department should expedite efforts to control lumpy skin disease.

The court had taken a notice of the growing disease incidence in the province over news reports and summoned the relevant government officials to know about steps being taken for its control and prevention.

Livestock DG says it's safe to eat meat of infected cattle

Assistant commissioner Dr Mohammad Ahteshamul Haq, veterinary officer Kamran Khan and additional advocate general Syed Sikandar Hayat Shah appeared before the bench and informed it about the latest situation regarding the infection.

The bench asked them if the meat of infected cattle was fit for human consumption, what steps the livestock department had taken to control the skin disease, and what the update was on cattle vaccination.

DG (livestock) Dr Alamzeb said lumpy skin disease spread among cattle through mosquitoes and that it was safe to eat the meat of the cattle infected with diseases.

He added that the department had been vaccinating the infected animals against diseases.

The DG said vaccines had so far been...