12 pigs reportedly smuggled from Balijan in Assam seized by Dimapur Police

Guwahati: As many as 12 smuggled pigs –reportedly smuggled from Balijan in Assam's Sonitpur district – were intercepted by police personnel of Dimapur, Nagaland.

Somewhat alarmingly, the police discovered that 8 of the pigs were dead when they were discovered. The other 4 have been placed under quarantine with the AH&VS department.

R. Khing, the advisor of the AH&VS department said that the serum samples will be collected from live pigs for confirmatory diagnosis of Classical Swine Flu and African Swine Fever – two deadly diseases found among pigs that have surfaced in the Northeast Indian region.

Khing also confirmed to media that the disposal of the 8 pig carcasses has been done following all the necessary protocol measures for pigs suspected to be carrying any of the diseases. He also urged the people to be "vigilant" and refrain from buying pigs from "unknown" sources.

Nagaland government had originally banned the import of pigs from outside the state following the 'high mortality' of pigs in the neighboring states. Amid the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have reported unusual deaths of pigs recently, many of which have been confirmed as cases of the deadly African Swine Fever (ASF).

Following the directive of the ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry & dairying, a notification was issued by chief secretary Temjen Toy on imposing a ban on import of pigs from outside the state with immediate effect. It informed that the ban was imposed following reports of the outbreak of 'African swine fever' and high mortality of pigs in the neighbouring states, where pigs were dying at an unprecedented rate.

The pig ban was extended again on July 6. "In view of the outbreak of African Swine Fever in the neighbouring states and in continuation to the notification of AHV/NPVCP59/2019 dated 28/04/2020 of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, it is hereby reiterated that there shall be a ban on import of pigs from other states into Nagaland", Abhijit Sinha, the Principal Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, wrote in his order.

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