Steps taken to prevent African swine fever outbreak in Biswanath

BISWANATH CHARIALI: Biswanath’s animal husbandry and veterinary department and the Biswanath administration have taken special measures to prevent the outbreak of African swine fever.

The move comes after the presence of African swine fever was detected in the carcass of pigs in Banergaon (Sonashree) under Chaiduar Development Block of Gohpur under Biswanath district. The presence of this infectious disease in the body of such pigs came to light after the samples were collected and tested. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Government of Assam, under the Prevention of Animal Infection and Prevention of Infectious Diseases Act-2009, has declared Banergaon (Sonashree) of Gohpur as the ‘epicentre’ of the disease vide notification no E 334698/DFA issued on September 3.

According to the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Biswanath, since African swine fever is a severe infectious viral (toxic) disease causing infection of the circulatory system of pigs, such diseases can spread at a rapid rate and the dreaded disease is likely to become an epidemic among pigs soon. There is no vaccine for African swine fever. Since the risk of all other pigs getting infected within a one-kilometre radius of Banergaon (Sonashree), the epicentre of African swine fever, is high, the departments and administration concerned have already called upon the pig farmers to take precautionary measures to prevent the transmission of African swine fever from pork and pig carcasses.

According to the sub-divisional animal husbandry and veterinary officer of Biswanath, only precautions can prevent the further spread of African swine fever. Calling upon pig farmers to contact the nearest veterinary hospital or animal health sub-centre as soon as there are signs of any disease, the Veterinary Officer has urged them to dig a pit at least six feet in case of death of any pig due to any cause and to bury the carcass with bleaching powder in it, and not to dump the carcass in a canal, river, beel or in an open place for any reason.

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