Emerging Infectious Diseases in Pakistan's Livestock Sector

Emerging infectious diseases pose serious threats to Pakistan's livestock sector, impacting animal health, rural livelihoods, and food security. Diseases like LSD and FMD are causing significant production losses and placing growing financial pressure.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

Mudasir Khan Kakar

6/25/2026

white and brown cow on green grass during daytime

Livestock farming remains the backbone of rural Pakistan and serves as a critical pillar of the national agricultural economy. For millions of rural households, cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and poultry are far more than productive assets, they are sources of income, nutrition, savings, and financial security. Livestock provides milk, meat, eggs, wool, hides, manure, and draft power, while also acting as a safety net during times of economic hardship, crop failure, or unexpected household expenses. The sector contributes significantly to agricultural value added and supports a vast network of farmers, traders, veterinarians, transporters, feed suppliers, processors, and retailers. However, this vital sector is increasingly threatened by an often-overlooked challenge: the emergence and spread of infectious livestock diseases.

Pakistan possesses one of the largest livestock populations in the world, spread across diverse ecological zones ranging from the fertile plains of Punjab and Sindh to the arid landscapes of Balochistan and the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. Yet the conditions that support livestock production are changing rapidly. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, floods, increased movement of animals across provinces, weak disease surveillance systems, and inadequate biosecurity measures have created an environment where infectious diseases can spread more easily than ever before.

The consequences for farmers can be devastating. Diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, hemorrhagic septicemia, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), lumpy skin disease, and various parasitic infections reduce animal productivity and increase mortality risks. When livestock become sick, milk production declines, weight gain slows, fertility rates fall, and veterinary treatment costs rise. In severe outbreaks, entire herds can be lost within weeks. For smallholder farmers who depend on daily milk sales or livestock trading to meet household expenses, even a temporary decline in production can create serious financial stress. As emerging diseases continue to threaten animal health and rural livelihoods, strengthening disease prevention, surveillance, and livestock health management has become essential for protecting Pakistan’s food security, rural economy, and agricultural future.

Emerging Livestock Diseases

Among the various livestock diseases affecting Pakistan’s rural economy, few have generated as much concern in recent years as Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). This viral disease, which primarily affects cattle, has emerged as a major threat to dairy production and livestock-based livelihoods across the country. Characterized by high fever, swollen lymph nodes, sharp declines in milk production, and the appearance of painful skin nodules across the body, LSD can severely weaken affected animals. Infected cattle often experience reduced appetite, weight loss, reproductive problems, and prolonged recovery periods, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers. The disease spreads mainly through biting insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and ticks, making it particularly difficult to control during warm and humid seasons when vector populations increase rapidly. In many rural areas, limited access to veterinary services, delayed diagnosis, and inadequate vaccination coverage have allowed outbreaks to spread quickly. Although vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure, many smallholder farmers remain unaware of vaccination schedules or lack access to affordable animal health services.

While LSD represents a relatively recent challenge, Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to be one of the most persistent and economically damaging livestock diseases in Pakistan. Affecting cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, FMD is highly contagious and can spread rapidly through direct contact, contaminated equipment, animal products, and livestock movements. Infected animals develop fever, excessive salivation, and painful blisters on the mouth, tongue, and feet. These symptoms make eating, drinking, and walking extremely difficult, resulting in severe weight loss, reduced milk yields, and lower market value. Although mortality rates among adult animals are generally low, productivity losses can be devastating, particularly for dairy farmers who depend on daily milk sales for household income. The growing movement of livestock across districts, provinces, and international borders without adequate health screening or quarantine measures has increased the risk of disease transmission. Furthermore, the presence of multiple virus strains complicates vaccination efforts and requires continuous monitoring and updating of disease-control strategies.

Small ruminants, particularly sheep and goats, face their own serious disease threats. Among the most destructive is Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), commonly known as goat plague. This highly contagious viral disease causes fever, mouth lesions, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and high mortality rates, especially among young animals. For pastoral communities and landless households that depend heavily on small ruminants as their primary source of income and savings, a PPR outbreak can wipe out years of investment within a matter of weeks. The disease remains widespread in areas where animal movement is poorly regulated and vaccination coverage remains inadequate. Limited veterinary infrastructure in remote and mountainous regions further increases vulnerability, allowing outbreaks to persist and spread across communities.

Adding to these challenges is the growing threat of tick-borne diseases, whose prevalence has increased as a result of climate change. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and warmer winters have created favorable conditions for ticks to survive, reproduce, and expand into new geographic areas. Diseases such as theileriosis and babesiosis, transmitted through tick bites, are becoming increasingly common in many livestock-producing regions. Affected animals often suffer from fever, anemia, weakness, reduced feed intake, weight loss, and significant declines in milk and meat production. In severe cases, mortality rates can be high, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Beyond direct animal losses, farmers face additional expenses related to veterinary treatment, medicines, and reduced reproductive performance.

The growing burden of these diseases highlights the urgent need for stronger livestock health systems. Expanding vaccination programs, improving disease surveillance, strengthening veterinary services, promoting farm biosecurity, and increasing farmer awareness are essential steps for protecting livestock assets. As climate change and increasing animal movement continue to create favorable conditions for disease emergence, proactive disease management will be critical for safeguarding Pakistan’s livestock sector, strengthening rural livelihoods, and ensuring long-term food security.

Prevention and Collective Action: Safeguarding Pakistan’s Livestock Future

Preventing livestock diseases is far more effective, affordable, and sustainable than treating outbreaks after they occur. In a country where millions of rural households depend on livestock for income, nutrition, and financial security, disease prevention should be viewed as an essential investment rather than an optional expense. Vaccination remains the cornerstone of livestock health management. Timely immunization against major diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Hemorrhagic Septicemia, and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) can significantly reduce animal mortality and productivity losses. For farmers, the cost of a vaccine is minimal compared to the economic damage caused by the loss of a productive animal or a decline in milk and meat production. Expanding vaccination coverage, particularly in remote rural areas, can therefore play a critical role in strengthening national livestock resilience.

Equally important are strong biosecurity measures at the farm level. Farmers should carefully screen and quarantine newly purchased animals before introducing them into existing herds. Proper sanitation, regular cleaning of animal housing, safe disposal of manure and waste, and controlled access to farms can greatly reduce the risk of disease transmission. Maintaining clean drinking water and high-quality feed also helps strengthen animal immunity and improve overall productivity. Regular observation of livestock is essential because early detection often determines whether a disease outbreak remains localized or spreads throughout an entire community. Signs such as fever, reduced appetite, respiratory distress, abnormal skin lesions, excessive salivation, or sudden drops in milk production should be reported immediately to veterinary professionals.

Protecting Pakistan’s livestock sector is a shared responsibility. Farmers, veterinarians, researchers, private industry, and government institutions must work together to strengthen disease surveillance, improve veterinary outreach, and enhance farmer education. Investment in modern diagnostic laboratories, disease-monitoring systems, and research on emerging livestock diseases is equally important. By promoting preventive healthcare and collaborative action, Pakistan can build a healthier livestock sector that supports rural livelihoods, strengthens food security, and contributes to long-term agricultural and economic development.

Conclusion

Emerging infectious diseases are becoming one of the most serious challenges facing Pakistan’s livestock sector, threatening animal health, rural livelihoods, food security, and economic stability. Diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Peste des Petits Ruminants, and various tick-borne infections are causing significant production losses and placing growing financial pressure on livestock-dependent households. Climate change, increased animal movement, inadequate biosecurity, and limited disease surveillance are further intensifying these risks. However, many of these threats can be effectively managed through timely vaccination, improved farm hygiene, stronger veterinary services, and early disease detection. Building a resilient livestock sector requires coordinated efforts among farmers, veterinarians, researchers, and policymakers. Investing in animal health is not merely an agricultural priority; it is a strategic investment in rural development, poverty reduction, public health, and national food security. By strengthening disease prevention and preparedness today, Pakistan can protect millions of livestock-dependent families and ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of its livestock industry.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan and can be reached at mudasirkhankakar1999@gmail.com

Emerging Infectious Diseases in Pakistan's Livestock Sector

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