In November 2024, the animal health authority of Japan reported the nation's first case of lumpy skin disease (LSD) at a dairy farm in Fukuoka, Kyushu. Although a total of 22 farms were affected17 dairy, 3 beef, and 2 mixedthe epidemic was effectively contained within two months through strict control measures. PCR testing confirmed the presence of LSD virus in skin nodules from suspected cattle at the index farms, and infectious virus was isolated. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genome sequence indicated that the virus detected in Japan was closely related to strains that have recently circulated in East and Southeast Asia.
Watanabe et al. (Tue,) studied this question.