19 Meghalaya villages identified as African Swine Fever "epicentres". Details here

Guwahati: Amid murmurs of an African Swine Fever outbreak in Meghalaya, the government has identified as many as 19 villages as "epicentres" of the disease and imposed stringent measures in these zones in order to contain the disease that is usually fatal for pigs.

The "epicentres" of the African Swine Fever in Meghalaya are as follows:

These areas have been tagged as "vulnerable" by the Government of Meghalaya based on tests conducted by the Meghalayan government in its bid to isolate the 'African Swine Fever' cases in the state.

The restrictions will be applicable with immediate effect in the villages under a one-kilometer radius surrounding infected premises (the epicentre of disease) designated as "Infected Zone" and in all villages falling under a 10 km radius surrounding infected premises (the epicentre of disease) designated as "Surveillance Zone".

Restrictions in the Infected Zones will be as under:

- No live pigs or pig feed or pork and pork products shall be allowed to be taken out of or brought into the infected zones.

- There should not be any movement of pig associated supplies (veterinary medicine, feed equipment, breeding tool etc.) from the infected zones.

- All equipment/supplies associated with pig should not be moved out of the pig sheds/pig farms.

- The pig farm owners and pig handlers shall maintain hygiene and bio-security in pig farms and restrict the entry of people into farm premises.

- There shall be a restriction of movement of people to the infected premises.

-.There shall be complete prohibition of movement of pig handlers from one pig shed to another.

- Vehicles shall be allowed to move out of the infected zone only after cleaning and disinfection.

- If pigs are swill-fed, the source of the swill feed should be traced for the identification of other possible contact premises.

- No person is allowed to take out any pig alive or dead which is infected or suspected to be infected from African swine fever.

- No person is allowed to take out any pig feed or bedding materials or other materials namely carcass, skin, or other parts or products of such animals which has come in contact with any animal infected or suspected to be infected from African swine fever.

- The carcasses shall not be allowed to be taken out of the infected premises and shall be disposed of in the infected premises itself.

- In case of exception where the carcass disposal is not possible, the transport of carcasses should be undertaken by the agencies under the control of the District Veterinary office following strict biosecurity protocols and using leak-proof vehicles.

- Carcasses should be disposed of by deep burial with sufficient lime cover only and are not to be thrown in rivers/streams/water bodies.

- After the carcasses have been disposed of, the premises and any potentially contaminated vehicle and equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected under the supervision of Veterinary Officers/Rapid Response Team (RRT).

- Preliminary disinfection of infected premises should be carried out under the direction and supervision of the Veterinary Officers/Rapid Response Team (RRT).

- Secondary disinfection shall be carried out by the owner in accordance with the direction of the Veterinary Officers/Rapid Response Team (RRT).

- Contaminated feed, slurry, swill, bedding, farm waste products, litter in infected premises shall be disposed of by deep burial.

- There shall be a complete ban on the slaughter of pigs and the sale of pork and pork products in Infected Zone.

- Swill feeding (kitchen and restaurant waste) of pigs is prohibited.

- Pig markets and abattoirs in the infected zone should strictly be closed down.

The District Veterinary Officer and RRT have been urged to take steps locally to ensure that everyone in and around the infected zone is made aware of the restrictions and requirements in force there. At the same time, local institutions such as Municipalities, village Dorbars, Dolloi, Headmen, Nokmas, etc, shall assist the Veterinary Officers/RRT in the discharge of their duties and take necessary measures to prevent the outbreak or spread of disease as provided under Section 30 of the Act.

Restrictions in the Surveillance zones will be as follows:

- Movement of live pigs from surveillance zone to infected zone is prohibited.

- Movement of pigs within the surveillance zone is permitted.

- There shall be a complete ban on inter-state and inter-district movement of pigs.

- All equipment/supplies associated with pigs in the infected zone should not be brought to the surveillance zone.

- Carcasses should be disposed of by deep burial with sufficient lime cover only and are not to be thrown in rivers/streams/water bodies.

- Movement of manure, slurry, and other pig wastes is not permitted although it can be licensed for transport for disposal.

- The pig farm owners and pig handlers shall maintain hygiene and bio-security in pig farms and shall restrict the entry of people into farm premises.

- There shall be complete prohibition of movement of pig handlers from one pig shed to another.

- Trucks and vehicles that have carried live pigs or other livestock or material which may be contaminated with ASF are prohibited from leaving premises of the surveillance zone before cleaning and disinfection.

- Swill feeding (kitchen and restaurant waste) for pigs is prohibited.

- Waste from slaughterhouses and pork stalls has to be disposed of properly by deep burial.

- Movement of pork and pork products from surveillance zone to free zone is prohibited.

- No animal gathering in the surveillance zone is allowed to have pigs present.

- Clinical surveillance for suspected sign/illness/death suggestive of ASF and sample collection shall be done.

- The Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Division shall control and manage wild boars in forest areas surrounding the infected zone and surveillance zone.

Preventive measures in Free Zone (area outside the surveillance zone):

- The pig farm owners and pig handlers shall maintain hygiene and bio-security in pig farms and shall restrict the entry of people into farm premises.

- Avoid contacts and ensure cleaning and disinfection at control points (such as entry to the farm and between sheds ), restrict movement of vehicle on/off-farm and control the disposal and collection of fallen stock and other waste.

- Pig holders shall be advised to confine their pigs.

- There shall be no movement of pigs, meat, and feed from the infected zones and surveillance zones into the Free zones.

- The entry of pork meat and pork products from other zones into Free Zone is prohibited.

- It is prohibited to feed meat to pig (from slaughter or kitchen waste).

- Swill feeding (kitchen and restaurant waste) of pigs is prohibited.

- Pig owners shall take preventive measures to prevent transmission of disease from wild boars, scavenging, and stray pigs.

- Monitoring the health of pigs for symptoms of the disease and follow regular management practices like deworming etc.

- Surveillance for ASF shall be carried out to provide assurance of continued disease freedom in the area.

African Swine Fever in Meghalaya:

Earlier this month, the Government of Meghalaya had confirmed cases of the African Swine Fever (ASF) among pigs in the state. During a media briefing, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong informed that out of 73 mysterious pig death cases, 24 have been confirmed to be due to ASF. As for the other 49 deaths, samples have been collected and sent for further investigation.

The virus causes a hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in domestic pigs; some isolates can cause the death of animals as quickly as a week after infection. It almost always leads to death among pigs.

Also Watch: Get Set Global: Assam for Global Assamese & Their Contributions