LAHORE:A delegation of United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) visited the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) and met with Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad here on Wednesday at City Campus.
During the meeting, they discussed about Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV) control and adopting preventive measures to save livestock sector (Cattle & Buffalo).
Dean Faculty of Biosciences Prof Dr Habib-ur-Rehman, Director Institute of Microbiology Prof Dr Tahir Yaqub, other senior faculty members of UVAS were present while the delegation was led by Dr Phoebe Readford along with Dr Ross De Clifford and Dr Muhammad Afzal.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad gave detailed presentation regarding UVAS initiatives to combat LSDV in Pakistan. He spoke about the Institute of Microbiology submitted projects and ongoing research MPhil and PhD programs, different UVAS publications on LSD, LSDV diagnostic facilities and test conducted in University Diagnostic Laboratory (UDL).
He also spoke about LSDV outbreak investigation through questionnaire & personal interview conducted by UVAS department of Epidemiology and Public Health to curb lumpy skin disease. Earlier, he also spoke about the history of UVAS, various degree programs, research, training and services of UVAS.
During the meeting, UNFAO delegation sought suggestions and technical inputs from UVAS senior faculty member to control LSDV. All the participants of meeting presented various suggestions to address this issue to save livestock sector.
The participants urged on the importance of biosecurity and they suggested that it was necessary to conduct webinar, workshops and farmers training programs to create awareness among them that how to deal with this disease, preventive measures to control its transmission and suggested reliable vaccine for the treatment of animal.
The participants also suggested to starting various clinical trials on vaccine, study on vector control and prevention of cattle transportation especially in the affected areas to unvaccinated animals (cattle & buffalo).
At the end of meeting, Dr Phoebe Readford lauded UVAS efforts for the prevention of deadly lumpy skin disease to save livestock sector in Pakistan.
Later, UNFAO delegation visited various departments of UVAS including Veterinary Academy, Bio-Safety level-3 Laboratory, Pet Centre, Quality Operation Laboratory and University Diagnostics Laboratory.