PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia has suspended, with immediate effect, all import of cattle and buffaloes from Thailand, after assessing the risk of lumpy skin disease (LSD) transmission, which was reported to have spread to over 41 provinces in the neighbouring country.
The Veterinary Services Department in a statement today said the ruling is made to curb the disease from spreading and affecting the ruminants breeding industry nationwide.
“The department urges all industry players, such as importers, wholesalers and breeders, to cooperate by cancelling orders with cattle and buffalo suppliers in Thailand.”
It also advised industry players to immediately report to the veterinary authority in their state or nearby district if any cattle or buffalo shows symptoms of being infected with LSD, so control and preventive measures can be taken.
“Although LSD is a non-zoonotic disease that does not affect humans, it impacts the ruminants breeding industry and causes losses due to the infected livestock experiencing weight loss, drop in milk production, miscarriage and infertility.”
As an effort to prevent smuggling of cows and buffaloes from Thailand, the department will obtain the cooperation of the Border Security Agency to increase monitoring at the Malaysia-Thailand border.
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) will also tighten inspections at entry points to block cattle and buffaloes entering from Thailand, according to the statement.
On June 2, Kedah Maqis reported that it had detected LSD in 42 cattle imported from Thailand at a quarantine station near Bukit Kayu Hitam in the state.
The 42 were out of 1,434 cattle imported on April 26 that were placed under quarantine before being permitted to be brought into the country. – Bernama, June 8, 2021
