SHILLONG: Outbreak of the African swine fever in the neighbouring states, and death of a number of pigs in certain villages, has led the state government to proclaim the affected villages as “containment zones”.
Consumption of pork is quite common in almost all the North Eastern states but the recent emergence of African swine fever has raised many concerns among the people and now Meghalaya too seems to have been affected by the viral disease which has wreaked havoc in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Government held a detailed discussion on the matter in Thursday’s review meeting attended by the Ministers and top officials.
Speaking to media persons after the review meeting of the government, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department is preparing the notification in this regard.
As of now, 73 pigs have died in the state out of which 24 deaths have been confirmed as African swine fever.
Tynsong further informed that the samples of 49 pigs which have died have been collected and sent for further investigation.
The government has also decided to prohibit the slaughtering, selling and consumption of pigs in these places where infection have taken place.
“It is being done to contain the further spread of the fever,” Tynsong said.
As of now, pigs have died in 12 villages of four districts of West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, West Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills.
Earlier, Meghalaya Government had sent the samples of 15 dead pigs at Lamin Village for testing to the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Khanapara in Assam.
Since February this year, African swine fever has killed at least 17,000 domesticated pigs in Assam and an unspecified number in Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, ASF is an extremely contagious viral disease affecting wild and domestic pigs. It swiftly crosses national borders, spreading through live or dead bodies, even through packaged pork products.
