Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Animal pests and diseases
  5. Lumpy skin disease
  6. Disease facts

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Lumpy skin disease
    • Disease facts
    • Government actions
    • Livestock producers
    • Veterinarians
    • National Action Plan

Disease facts

Image of Lumpy skin disease in cattle hind
Lumpy skin disease in cattle overseas

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of cattle and buffalo that causes relatively low mortality, however the disease can result in animal welfare issues and significant production losses.

Infection typically causes an acute disease with fever, depression, and characteristic skin nodules. There may also be a marked reduction in milk yield as well as abortion in pregnant animals.

Cattle and water buffalo infected with LSD typically show the following signs:

  • Firm, raised lumps up to 50 mm in diameter can develop on any part of the body. They are often on the skin around the head, neck, genitals and limbs.
  • The centre of the nodules dies, after which the resultant scabs may fall out, leaving large holes in the skin, that may become infected.
  • Swelling of the limbs, brisket, genitals and lymph nodes may occur.
  • Watering eyes.
  • Increased nasal and salivary secretions.
  • Loss of appetite and reluctance to move.

Some animals with the disease may not show clinical signs.

How LSD spreads

The disease is spread by biting flies, mosquitoes and ticks. It can also travel long distances through the movement of infected animals or through contaminated items including animal handling equipment, livestock vehicles, as well as people’s clothing and footwear. In some cases, it spreads directly from animal to animal.

The disease has shown its ability to establish and spread in a wide range of environmental and productions systems around the world.

Potential impacts of LSD in Australia

The disease not only presents animal health and welfare issues but an incursion in Australia would:

  • affect our beef cattle, water buffalo and dairy industries
  • impact our domestic and international trade as Australia would no longer be recognised as being free from LSD
  • result in economic losses to Australia’s associated industries including meat processing, retailers and livestock transporters.

Human health and meat consumption

The LSD virus does not affect people. While meat from infected cattle is safe to eat, Australia would opt for a humane destruction approach if the disease occurred here. This would see any affected cattle or buffalo disposed of under strict biosecurity processes, and not enter our food chain.

Disease distribution

Originally limited to Africa, the global distribution of LSD is increasing. Since 2019 it has spread throughout China and Southeast Asia. In 2021 it was confirmed in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. In 2022 it was officially reported by Indonesia and Singapore.

See what the government is doing to prevent an LSD incursion in Australia.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 19 October 2022

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram