While the north-east has mostly been immune to the COVID-19 crisis, it stares at an imminent threat – the African Swine Flue.
Government of Assam on Sunday stated that the African Swine Flu has been detected in Assam which has nearly killed around 2500 pigs in 306 villages.
The state government has mentioned that it will not resort to culling of pigs immediately despite the go-ahead from the centre. Assam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora stated that the state would adopt an alternative mechanism to prevent the spread of the virus. He explicitly mentioned that the disease has no relation to COVID-19.
The presence of African Swine Flu was confirmed by National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal.
The veterinary department will collect the samples within one kilometre radius of the infected area to test for the virus. Only those pigs that test positive for the virus would be culled. Mr. Bora added that the government will take daily updates and will take a decision as and when the situation evolves. He also requested the neighbouring states to take adequate measures to stop the movement of pigs.
The virus spreads through direct or indirect contact with pig’s meat, blood, saliva, and body fluids. The death percentage of the pigs affected by the disease is almost 100 per cent.
The state is putting in place a surveillance zone within 10 kms to check on the movement of pigs through GPS mapping.
Mr. Bora said that the disease started in China in April 2019 at a village in Xinjiang province that borders Arunachal Pradesh. It is suspected that the disease crossed over to Arunachal and then to Assam.