A mysterious flu-like disease has killed dozens of camels in the Cholistan desert, prompting an emergency response from livestock authorities in Punjab.
According to provincial livestock officials, teams have been deployed to monitor and investigate a fast-spreading infection reported across remote desert stretches. The outbreak was first detected after herders in Sadiqabad and Kot Sabzal (Rahim Yar Khan district) raised alarms over sudden illnesses and unexplained deaths in their herds.
Over 11,000 Camels Examined; 1,100 Showing Symptoms
Special livestock teams examined over 11,000 camels in just five days, with around 1,100 animals found exhibiting symptoms of the mystery disease.
“The samples of 52 camels have been sent to livestock laboratories in Lahore and Islamabad,” officials confirmed, adding that laboratory results are awaited to determine the exact cause of the outbreak.
Rapid & Deadly Symptoms
According to initial reports, infected camels first develop cold-like symptoms, which quickly escalate to:
- High fever
- Weakness and disorientation
- Collapse, often leading to death within hours
Authorities suspect a viral or bacterial pathogen but have not yet confirmed the source.
Herders on the Brink of Financial Disaster
Camel herders say the outbreak is devastating their livelihoods, as many are losing animals worth hundreds of thousands of rupees, representing their sole source of income in the desert economy.
Livestock officials say emergency vaccination camps, mobile medical units, and disease-tracking teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to contain further spread.
