Lumpy skin disease has been detected in countries close to Australia, including Indonesia. We want livestock producers to be prepared, vigilant and on the lookout.

Lumpy skin disease is a serious disease of cattle and water buffalo. It has never occurred in Australia but is an emerging threat as it continues to spread through Asia.

It is critical that cattle producers be aware of what lumpy skin disease looks like and report any signs of the disease observed in their cattle immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or their local veterinarian.

People and producers up in the Top End who may be around cattle and water buffalo, please be particularly vigilant, and urgently report the disease if they see it in these animals.

The signs

Know the signs of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and what to look out for in your cattle and buffalo, and who to contact if you spot anything unusual.

• Discharge from the eyes and nose – usually observed first

• Decreased milk yield in lactating cattle

• High fever that may exceed 41 °C

• Appearance of firm skin nodules (lumps) of 2 to 5 cm in diameter, particularly on the head, neck, limbs, udder, genitalia and perineum within 48 hours of onset of fever. The number of lesions varies from a few in mild cases, to multiple lesions covering the entire body in severely affected animals.

• Cattle may rapidly lose body condition, and some may need to be euthanased. Those that recover may remain in extremely poor condition for some time.

• The incubation period is usually between 4- and 14-days post-infection but can be up to 28 days.

• Morbidity (sickness) rates vary greatly and typically range between 10–20%. Mortality (death) rates of 1–5% are usual.

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More Information

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