13,382 pigs died of African Swine Fever across Assam: Atul Bora

A CORRESPONDENT

GOLAGHAT: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, altogether 13, 382 pigs have died across Assam due to the African Swine Fever; and nine districts have banned pork sale. This was stated by State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora while addressing the media here.

Minister Bora said that till Sunday, deaths of pigs were reported from Sivasagar, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Sibsagar, Golaghat, Majuli and Kamrup (Metro).

"No vaccine has been found to deal with African Swine Fever. This disease had broken out for the first time across Africa in 1921. Then it spread to several countries. In 2019, African Swine Fever was reported in China. It is suspected that the disease spread to Assam through China. In Assam, it was reported for the first time at Jonai in Dhemaji district; and it later got spread to other districts of the State," said Bora. As per official data, 808 pigs died in Golaghat; 3,404 in Majuli; and 37 pigs died in Kamrup (M).

The Minister further said that according to the report of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department, there were about 30 lakh pigs in Assam. There are more than 15,000 wild pigs in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and more than 50,000 wild pigs in other forest areas. Many national parks are near the tribal villages from where domestic pigs easily enter the parks. To prevent the spread of this disease from the domestic to wild pigs and to stop the entry of domestic pigs into the Park, the KNP authority has started digging canals on the Park boundary.

The Minister appealed to the public to bury the dead pigs in 6-foot deep pits and to disinfect the pits with bleaching powder, salt and sodium chloride. "Isolation and biosecurity are the preventive measures for the disease. One kilometre radius from the affected area will be declared as containment zone. The Deputy Commissioners and Circle Officers have been asked to take preventive measures in their respective districts," the Minister pointed out.

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