ASF cases confirmed in Nagaland

May 21, 2022 29 Views No Comment

‘Likely to cause devastating effect on pig population unless precautions are taken’

DIMAPUR, MAY 21 (MExN): The Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Service has informed that confirmed cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been established through ‘Nucleotide Sequencing’ of PCR products and RTPCR in Longleng, Mokokchung and Phek districts.

In view of this, the Committee on African Swine Fever (ASF) from the directorate office under the Convenorship of Dr K Linyü, Joint Director along with Dr Z Mekro, Deputy Director and Dr S Amenla Walling Theunuo, Deputy Director visited the epicentres for initiating control, containment and eradication measures in coordination with the officers in Mokokchung and Longleng on May 16 and 17.

As of now, the disease is contained in Phek, and moderately contained in Longleng, but the situation in Mokokchung is yet to be contained satisfactorily, informed a press release from the department.

It said that unless the public, piggery farmers and pork consumers in the State cooperate in containing the disease; it is likely to spread across villages and districts causing a devastating effect on the pig population and severely impacting the economy of the State.

It may further be mentioned that unless swift action is taken in a coordinated effort, high morbidity and mortality are going to create acute shortage of local pigs in the coming months especially from October to December resulting in the high cost of pork in the market.

Currently, selective (epicentre) banning on imports is being practiced. However, with the nature of the border porosity with the neighbouring States, entry/import of live pigs from outside the State has become very difficult for the department to monitor.

As per the current epidemiological survey, the source of origin of the disease appears to be from outside the State due to the high and rampant import of pigs (live pig and cut meat), the department said. The public, piggery farmers and pork consumers have been asked to report deaths of pigs to the nearest Veterinary Health Centre for necessary sero-monitoring. It further asked people not to consume dead/diseased pigs, but carry out a deep burial method and subsequent sanitization.

It advised that people refrain from importing live pigs for meat and piglets for breeding purposes from outside without knowing the health status; refrain from buying pork of unknown origin; maintain strict bio-security measures in farms; practice usage of footbath at entrance of farms; vaccinate pigs against Classical Swine Fever; and avoid feeding with feeds, especially from hotels and other wastes which may be contaminated.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/asf-cases-confirmed-in-nagaland