SHILLONG, May 4: Meghalaya government is yet to ban the import of pigs despite only recently declaring some villages in East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills as ‘epicentres’ of African Swine Fever (ASF). A review to take a call on the matter is, however, in the offing.
“As of now, we are yet to take a decision to ban the import of pigs from outside the state. We will be reviewing shortly if there is a need to ban the import of pigs if there is a spike in the number suspected cases of ASF,” Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AH&V) department, Dr KB Sahkhar, told reporters here on Tuesday.
Informing that Ri Bhoi is worst affected, he said some cases of the disease are suspected in few villages of East Khasi Hills.
“But it is still a suspected case until and unless we receive the report of the samples sent to the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL), Guwahati,” said Sahkhar, who feels that the report will take some time come in.
“We cannot say it is African Swine Fever until we receive the report of the samples. We can declare as an outbreak only if the deaths of pigs from suspected ASF are reported across the state,” the department director said.
The official said that only 200 out of the 800 samples sent for testing last year are confirmed cases of ASF.
It may be mentioned that on April 27 last, Mawlai Nongkwar, Pig Farm Nongpyiur, Thangsning, Kseh Pyndeng, Nongkseh and Lygkyrdem villages in East Khasi Hills, besides Raitong, Umran Dairy and Patarim in Ri Bhoi and Pig Farm Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills were declared as ‘epicentres’ of the disease.
