Bhatkal: The first case of lumpy skin disease in local cattle was detected in Bhatkal on Saturday, although veterinary officer Dr Shivakumar has assured that there is no reason to panic.

Speaking to Vartha Bharati over telephone on Saturday night, the officer said that a cow in the taluk was found on Saturday evening, suffering from the viral disease that has caused serious worry among people rearing cattle. He added that the cow is also being treated for the disease.

“There is no cause for worry among the people, as the virus infects only cattle, not human beings. People can also consume the milk produced by cattle suffering from the disease without danger of falling ill,” the doctor assured.

He admitted that, the disease was first detected in North Indian states, but is now spreading in Karnataka too. “The disease spreads through mosquitoes and is also airborne. The disease can also be cured,” Dr Shivakumar added.

A video of an infected young bull is going viral on Whatsapp, giving rise to questions among the people as well as rumours.

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Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.

The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.

At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.

According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.

An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.

“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.

The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.

Police have since launched a search for the suspects.

South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.

The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.

According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.