AH&VS calls for collective effort in containing African Swine Fever

Dimapur, May 21 (EMN): The Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Service has informed the public and piggery farmers that confirmed cases of the occurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been established through “Nucleotide Sequencing” of PCR products and RTPCR from NIHSAD, Bhopal & NERDDL, Guwahati in Longleng, Mokokchung and Phek districts.

In view of this, the committee on ASF from the directorate office under the convenorship of Dr. K Linyü, Joint Director along with Dr. Z Mekro, Deputy Director, and Dr. S Amenla Walling Theunuo, Deputy Director visited the epicentres for initiating control, containment and eradication measures in co-ordination with the officers in Mokokchung and Longleng on May 16 and 17th respectively, a DIPR update stated.

As of now, the disease is contained in Phek, and moderately contained in Longleng. However, the situation in Mokokchung is yet to be contained satisfactorily and unless the public, piggery farmers and pork consumers in the state cooperate in containing the disease, it is likely to spread across villages and districts, which will eventually have devastating effect on the pig population and severely impact the economy of the state, it said.

It may further be mentioned that unless swift action is taken in a co-ordinated effort, high morbidity and mortality are going to create an acute shortage of local pigs in the coming months especially from October to December resulting in the high cost of pork in the market.

Currently, selective (epicentre) banning on imports is being practiced. However, with the nature of the border porosity with the neighbouring states, entry/import of live pigs from outside the state has become very difficult for the department to monitor. As per the current epidemiological survey, the source of origin of the disease appears to be from outside the state due to high and rampant import of pigs (live pig and cut meat).

Hence, to contain the disease in the state, the public, piggery farmers and pork consumers are requested to remain vigilant and report the death of pigs to the nearest Veterinary Health Centre for necessary sero-monitoring; avoid consuming dead/diseased pigs, carry out a deep burial method and subsequent sanitization; refrain from importing live pigs for meat and piglets for breeding purposes from outside without knowing the health status; refrain from buying pork of unknown origin; maintain strict bio-security measures in the farms; practice usage of footbath at the entrance of the farm; vaccinate your pigs against Classical Swine Fever and avoid feeding them with leftovers from hotels and other wastes, which may be contaminated, it added.