African Swine Fever: Minister Atul Bora traces origin to China

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister Atul Bora said that African Swine Fever had first occurred in Xinjiang province in China adjacent to Arunachal Pradesh in April 2019, and from there it might have come to Assam via Arunachal Pradesh. The flu has been spread in 306 villages in Assam.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Bora said, "With the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal confirming African Swine Fever being behind the death of pigs in the State, the pig farmers here are crestfallen. The Centre has sent us guidelines for culling, but we're not going to opt for culling immediately. We're going to conduct random tests of samples in each of the affected areas taking a radius of one km. We want to separate pigs that have not been infected with the fever. To make that happen, we need to stop movement of pigs and pig feeds from one farm to another in affected areas with a radius of ten km. We shouldn't even allow workers of one farm going to another. These are surveillance zones. We've already asked the pig farmers to keep their animals confined. They will have to face action if they allow their pigs to move around."

The Minister has further said that the department is going to form district-wise committees to observe and implement the guidelines.

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