Amid its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northeast is now witnessing an outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF). After Mizoram, cases of ASF have been reported in Tripura as well. A huge number of pigs have died in a government farm in Kanchanpur in Tripura.

In Mizoram, ASF has killed more than 28,000 pigs in all the 11 districts of the state since March this year. According to Mrinal Dutta, an animal disease expert, the outbreak of ASF was reported earlier this year in most of the states in the northeast, including Assam and Meghalaya.

Tripura′s Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD) Director K. Sasikumar mentioned that some samples of ASF-affected pigs tested positive in the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Guwahati. A total of 160 pigs have died thus far at the government run Exotic Pig Breeding Farm in Kanchanpur. However, the disease has not yet spread to the adjoining villages owing to strict surveillance of the department officials and doctors.

Sasikumar said that veterinary doctors and experts have camped in Kanchanpur and in association with the local officials and volunteers, they have culled 37 pigs. Surveillance underway to prevent the spread of the disease.

He stated that the disease might have spread to Kanchanpur from Mizoram. The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, has been imposed in Kanchanpur and preventive measures are being undertaken.

Any person found violating the provisions of the act would be punished with imprisonment and fine. A ban has been imposed on transportation and trading of pigs to and from Kanchanpur.

The ASF outbreak has led to a financial loss amounting to more than Rs 230 crore so far, stated an official. In middle of March, the first pig death was reported in Lungsen village in Mizoram′s Lunglei district. The villagers reported that the pigs were imported from Bangladesh. Samples of the dead pigs sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal came positive for ASF.

Experts suggest that the outbreak might have been caused by pigs or pork imported from Myanmar, Bangladesh and the neighboring state of Meghalaya.

While humans don′t get infected by ASF, they can act as carriers of the virus. There is no vaccine for the virus till today. Following the outbreak, the states in the northeast have announced high alert and people, particularly those who own piggeries, have been asked to refrain from bringing pigs and piglets from other states and neighboring countries, particularly Myanmar.

The Central government′s advisory stated that the disease is prevalent in China, and India has borders with China, Myanmar and Nepal. The bordering Indian states therefore must to remain vigilant of the movement of pigs and pork products. The advisory further stated that people in the border areas must to be adequately sensitized.

Source: ET Healthworld