Signs of Lumpy Skin Disease in Cows and Buffaloes: Prevention and Treatment Measures

According to European health authorities, a person with a weakened immune system was infected with the Shamond virus and died as a result of this infection in France. This case is significant because it was previously believed that the pathogen exclusively affects animals, particularly cattle, and this is the first registered case among humans.

Despite this incident, experts and health authorities note that the probability of an outbreak or epidemic of this virus remains low.

The Shamond virus was discovered in Nigeria in 1965. It primarily infects ruminant animals such as cows, sheep, and goats, causing fever, diarrhea, and reduced milk yields. In adult animals, it is rarely fatal.

Transmission of the virus occurs through bites of mosquitoes of the genus Culicoides, known as maruvi or powder mosquitoes. This virus is a relative of the Oropuche virus, which has affected thousands of Brazilians in recent years.

In July 2026, an outbreak caused by two new Shamond variants was detected in livestock in Europe, initially in Switzerland and Germany. The disease spread to farms in France, Spain, Portugal, and other countries.

The man's death occurred on October 9th. He was over 60 years old, lived in a rural area of the Rhône-Alpes region, where the virus was already circulating among animals, and was battling cancer. The symptoms he exhibited included diarrhea, vision loss, confusion, and other neurological problems. His condition progressed to encephalitis, which proved fatal.

According to a report published in the journal Eurosurveillance, it is most likely that the man was infected after a maruvi bite. Less likely hypotheses include infection through consuming contaminated food or after blood transfusion.

The patient suffered from severe leukemia and had a weakened immune system, which, according to scientists, likely exacerbated his condition. A weak immune system can allow the virus to remain in the body longer and reach more organs. Autopsy revealed high viral levels in the man's brain, liver, and spleen.

The Shamond virus is not detected by standard blood tests; doctors had to sequence the RNA present in the patient's samples. The virus genome found in the man's body was very similar to that circulating in animals, with an emphasis on five mutations. Researchers do not yet know if these changes make the virus more transmissible to humans.

There is a documented record of animals modifying their food. In a study conducted in the 1950s, scientists provided sweet potatoes and other snacks to Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) on the beaches of Kojima Island, located in northern Japan.

Initially, most of the small monkeys consumed the vegetables immediately after receiving them, including the sand. However, a young female, known as Imo, began washing her meal in a nearby stream before eating. This behavior was gradually assimilated and replicated by the other young monkeys on the island, leading to the fact that, after a few years, almost all the animals washed the potatoes.

At first, the use of the freshwater from the stream was more frequent to remove the sand. However, on certain occasions, the little macaques also washed the food in the sea itself. Years later, researchers observed that they all started preferring to use the ocean, as the saltwater probably gave the meal a flavor.

In the village of Dari Haas, which belongs to the Gola block in the Gorkhapur district, 450 people who consumed chanmari made from cow's milk received a rabies vaccination during the Durga Puja celebration. This cow had been bitten by a stray dog. Following the animal's death, anxiety among residents increased regarding the risk of rabies infection.

In response, the health department organized a vaccination campaign in the village on Wednesday. Previously, 50 people had already sought vaccination at the public medical center on Tuesday, and another 400 people were vaccinated on Wednesday.

The milk from this cow was also supplied to some homes and shops in the village, which heightened public concern. The health department strongly recommended that residents undergo vaccination according to medical advice. A veterinarian suggested the possibility of rabies in the cow, although no official confirmation had been obtained.

A shepherd from Dari Haas village, Navmi Yadav, did not know exactly when the stray dog bit the cow. He regularly delivered milk to several shops and homes. One or two days before the incident, the cow's condition began to deteriorate, but on Tuesday, her health sharply declined. The shepherd showed the animal to a private veterinarian as well as doctors from the Dari Haas Veterinary Hospital. According to the shepherd, the doctors suspected the animal had been bitten by a dog. Shortly after this, the cow started barking, and she died on Tuesday evening.

When the deterioration of the cow's health and its unusual behavior became known, residents of Dari and Govindpur villages, who consumed chanmari made from its milk during Durga Puja, became worried. As a precaution, they began receiving anti-rabies vaccines. On Wednesday, October 21, a team from the health department arrived in Dari village from the public medical center. Under the guidance of pharmacist Siddharth Singh, the team conducted a vaccination drive. The team included medical personnel such as Arshad, Sonu Srivastava, Priyanka, and Ankita. Due to the large number of rural residents who came, the vaccination process proceeded continuously. By the evening of Wednesday, October 21, 400 people had been vaccinated, and previously, about 50 people had already received the vaccine at the CHC on Tuesday.

Affected individuals must receive the anti-rabies vaccine according to prescribed medical recommendations. According to the standard intramuscular schedule, subsequent doses are given on the third, seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-eighth day after the first dose. The need for a booster dose after 90 days was also mentioned.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Gorkhapur, stated that the cow in the Gola block village was bitten by a dog. Its milk was used to prepare chanmari during Durga Puja, and many people drank it. The cow died, causing fear among the people. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, 450 people received the anti-rabies vaccine. He emphasized that there is no cause for fear because the milk could have been boiled before preparing the yogurt and then added to the chanmari. Boiling destroys the virus. Vaccination is being carried out due to public apprehension.