PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 7 -- The animal husbandry department has intensified surveillance and vaccination of cattle in Prayagraj following reports of lumpy skin disease (LSD) from several districts of Uttar Pradesh. Officials said special attention is being given to villages along the Madhya Pradesh border, as LSD cases have been reported in neighbouring areas during the monsoon. The state government has directed officials to work in "mission mode" to contain the spread of the viral disease. Animal fairs have been temporarily suspended, while movement of livestock across state borders is being closely monitored. "Lumpy skin disease has not been confirmed in any cattle in Prayagraj so far, but the department is fully alert. An intensive vaccination campaign has been launched and 48,000 doses of the lumpy vaccine are currently available in the district," said chief veterinary officer Dr SN Yadav.The entire Koraon area in the trans-Yamuna region is being surveyed as it is considered vulnerable because of its proximity to Madhya Pradesh. Ring vaccination is also being carried out around potentially vulnerable areas. More than 23,000 cattle in gaushalas across the district are being vaccinated. As many as 37 animal husbandry teams have been deployed for the exercise. Mobile veterinary vans are also visiting villages to provide vaccination and other veterinary services. The alert comes after suspected LSD cases were reported among cattle in Jhansi. Samples have been sent for blood testing. Infected cattle have been identified in Bangra, Babina and Garautha blocks, with at least one death reported in Javan village of Bangra. Across Uttar Pradesh, LSD has affected around 20 districts, mainly in the western part of the state. Saharanpur and Shamli are among the worst affected, with 5,391 and more than 1,200 infected cattle respectively. Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Mathura and Firozabad have also reported cases. At least 14 cattle deaths have officially been reported in the worst-affected western districts, while death audits are continuing.LSD is mainly spread by blood-feeding insects such as mosquitoes, flies and ticks. Prayagraj had already started its wider livestock vaccination programme in July. According to Dr Yadav, 7.36 lakh animals have been vaccinated against haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), also known as galghontu, under the National Animal Disease control programme and the state department's vaccination drive....