SEJONG, - Confirmed cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle rose to 42 in South Korea on Thursday, one week after the country reported its first-ever outbreak of the viral infection, the agriculture ministry said.

Four new confirmed cases were reported Thursday, with five suspected cases under investigation, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Following the nationwide outbreak, health authorities have launched an intensive vaccination campaign that calls for vaccinating all of the country's cattle by early next month.

LSD, which does not affect humans, is a highly infectious disease that causes skin lesions, fever and loss of appetite, often leading to a fall in milk production and even death. It affects cattle and buffalo via mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects.

It typically takes around three weeks for vaccinated cattle to develop protective antibodies against the disease, officials said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency