More than 7,500 cattle have been infected with the new virus spreading among cattle in the country, the Department of Animal Production and Health said.

“The new virus, which was first identified in Sri Lanka in September last year, has now spread to 14 districts,” Dr. Pradeep Kumarawadu, the epidemiologist at the department told News 1st on Saturday (Jan. 09).

According to Dr. Kumarawadu, there is a decline in the capacity of milk produced by cattle that are infected with viral fever.

Cases of the virus were reported in Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan in 2019 and 2020, he added.

The State Ministry of Livestock Farm Promotion and Dairy & Egg Related Industries has appointed a committee consisting of seven members to look into the matter.

State Minister D.B. Herath has instructed the committee headed by the Secretary to the State Ministry of Livestock, to submit a report on the matter within a week.