NONGPOH, April 28: The African Swine Fever (ASF), ever since its outbreak, has claimed lives of 389 domestic pigs with almost 100 per cent mortality rate over the last two weeks in Meghalaya, an official said on Thursday.
Principal Secretary for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department, GHP Raju said that ASF has spread to other parts of the state with large number of cases being reported in different districts since the outbreak of the fatal disease.
He said the first case of the disease was first reported from Umshorshor village under Umsning Block in Ri-Bhoi and was subsequently designated as the epicentre of the ASF.
“So far, there have been 234 suspected ASF deaths of pig in Ri-Bhoi district, 135 pig deaths in East Khasi Hills, 88 from West Khasi Hills and 42 from Amlarem in Jaintia Hills. Twenty-five deaths of pigs have moreover been reported from other districts of the state,” Raju said.
He said the veterinarians had collected the samples from the dead pigs and sent them for ASF confirmatory test to Guwahati. Later, the samples were tested positive for ASF.
Raju said the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department has designated all villages falling under one kilometre radius of the epicentre as infected zone.
A directive to this effect was also issued by the District Magistrate of Ri-Bhoi.
“All villages under a kilometre of radius surrounding Umshorshor village in Umsning, Ri-Bhoi, which was declared as the epicentre of the outbreak of African Swine Fever in Meghalaya, have been designated as ‘infected zone’, while villages falling under 10 kilometre radius have been designated as ‘surveillance zone’,” the District Magistrate said in the order.
In addition, restrictions have been imposed by the district magistrate in the ‘infected zone’ to be followed by residents — taking out and bringing in of live pigs, pig feed, pork and pork products, feed equipment etc., to and fro the infected zone is prohibited.
All pig farm owners and pig handlers have been asked to maintain hygienic and bio-security in pig farms, while also they have been prohibited to move from one pig shed to another.
Restrictions have also been issued for people on entering farm premises and movement of people to the infected premises has also been barred.
Anyone found in violation of placing carcass of pigs or any animal, which at the time of death was known to be infected with ASF, in rivers, lakes or canals will be punished with fine of Rs 2000 and a monthlong imprisonment in case of non-payment, whereas for subsequent conviction, they will entail a fine of Rs 5,000 along with imprisonment as per relevant section of the law.
With regard to surveillance zones, the district magistrate has banned movement of live pigs from surveillance zone to infected zone or movement of pork or pork products from the surveillance zone to free zone.
It may be mentioned that Umshorshor village of Ri-Bhoi district was declared as the epicenter of ASF outbreak, which was confirmed by the veterinary authorities.
Following the outbreak, the state government had immediately put a ban on the movement of pigs in the area.
The North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Lab in Guwahati had also confirmed the outbreak of the ASF as the sample, sent on April 13, tested positive for the same. (With agency inputs)
