Assam's Biswanath Dist Bans Pig Transport Amid Surging African Swine Flu Cases

Biswanath: In the wake of the surging African Swine Flu (ASF) cases, the district administration has banned more than 65 locations including the Pratapgarh tea estate in Biswanath district from transporting any pig or pork products.

The district administration has termed these areas as Containment zones and has imposed multiple restrictions on pig rearing and transport in the areas falling under the district.

They have also put curbs on any animal market, animal fair, animal exhibition, and carrying on any activity involving grouping or gathering of pigs within the zone.

'No carrier of goods or animals shall carry any animals from or out of the infected zone. Carriage of animals (Pigs) through roadways or railways through the declared infected zone is however allowed subject to so long the animal is not unloaded in any place within the zone till the issuance of sanitization certificate issued by the competent Veterinary Authority," the order said.

The order also added that people have been barred from carrying any pig feed, bedding material, or other materials such as the likes of carcass, skin, or other parts or products of such animal which has come in contact with any animal infected or suspected to be infected from ASF.

Earlier, the lethal African Swine Fever (ASF) virus had managed to sneak into Sikkim after ravaging the state of Mizoram.

Several cases of African Swine Fever have been identified in at least four districts of the state, namely - Gangtok, Mangan, Pakyong, and Namchi on April 5.

Meanwhile, African Swine Flu (ASF) happens to be a highly contagious viral disease emanating from pigs. The disease generally leads to a high mortality rate in its extreme form.

It is worth noting that African Swine Flu (ASF) is not the same as Swine Flu and both of them differ from each other. Humans are not affected by the ASF and there are no repercussions on human health.

The clinical signs of ASF may take place in chronic, sub-acute or acute forms. The incubation period for ASF varies but it usually happens between a period of five to fifteen days.

The body temperature of the pigs' increases (40.5 degrees Celsius or 105 degrees Fahrenheit), then becomes dull, and thereafter, the pigs cease to eat their food.

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