Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire on Friday issued a ruling to the government to inform the House of Representatives about the lumpy skin disease that has spread across the country.

Speaker Ghimire asked the authorities to inform the House about the actions taken by the government in this regard after parliamentarians raised the issue of the outbreak of the viral disease that has affected cattle.

“Lumpy skin disease has been discussed in the past and in today’s meeting as well. I direct the concerned minister to clarify this matter and inform the House about the attempts being made for the prevention of further spread of the disease,” said Speaker Ghimire.

Speaking at today’s meeting lawmakers said the disease has caused great damage to farmers across the country and demanded the government send specialists to villages and arrange vaccination.

Speaking at the beginning of Friday’s meeting of the lower House, Padam Giri, chief whip of CPN-UML, accused the government of not being responsible despite the disease becoming an epidemic.

Also speaking, Nepali Congress lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada said paddy plantation was affected as cattle died of the disease.

“Lumpy skin disease has affected farmers across the country. The situation is even worse in the mountainous region,” he said. “The fields in the region are barren as oxen died of the disease.”

Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker Roshan Karki demanded the government inform the House on action taken by it to tame the viral infection.

Lumpy skin disease is an infectious disease in cattle caused by a virus of the family Poxviridae. It is spread by insects that suck the blood like mosquitoes and ticks. Infected cattle get fever and develop lumps on their skin.

Experts have warned of a possible drop in the paddy harvest and dairy output which may trigger food insecurity this year due to the outbreak.