Toll of administering unathorised made in Korea Swine Flu vaccine ?
Numerous pigs fall prey to unknown disease
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 16 2013: Even though exact cause of death is yet to be determined, grown-up pigs already administered with unauthorised 'Made in Korea' vaccine have been vanquished by an unknown disease thereby dashing hope of some pig rearers to generate healthy income.

Close on the heels of The Sangai Express reporting about some pig farm owners administering Korean vaccine to prevent infection of swine fever on their source of income, a pig rearer namely Sapam Noren of Heingang Chongthabi under Heingang police station, has reportedly lost 14 mature pigs out of 32 he had been toiling on.

The said pigs weighing in between 120-125 kgs each are said to have succumbed to an unknown disease in the last few days.

Informing that about three months back all his pigs were vaccinated with the Korean vaccine as pre-emptive measure from the deadly swine fever, Noren said he made the latest purchase of the vaccine from a shop located at Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak prior to which he used to obtain the same vaccine from Palace Gate.

The ailing pigs and inset the unauthorised Korean vaccine

For two doses of swine fever vaccine for the 32 pigs which was supposed to be administered within an interval of 15 days as per advice of the Chingmeirong shop runners, Noren reportedly spent Rs 1600 with both doses purchased from the said shop.

Inspite of completing the two doses of Korean vaccine, the pigs initially showed signs of fever-like symptoms consequently leading to weakness, avoiding food intake and reddish spots visible near the rear as well as frontal (abdomen) sides, narrated a distraught Noren further stating that preceded by intense shivering of the limbs the pigs collapsed with frothing from the mouth.

Noren said soon after discovering the ailment he took one of the suffering pigs alive to the Sanjenthong Hospital of Veterinary Department where doctors suspecting the problem to be swine fever prescribed Exact-375, Exact-750 and Nidotron injections along with Feroliv-FA and Cyclin-DT tablets.

Despite providing the prescribed medicines, the pigs showed no sign of recovering eventually prompting him to consult the Chingmeirong shop owner on whose advice Noren procured and administered Enrostat, Beejet and Nidotron injections but without any success.

From the adjacent Heingang Awang Leikai Chongthabi Leikai too, information has been received about some pigs showing similar symptoms.

Noren contended that his repeated appeals to the veterinarian present at the lone Heingang Veterinary Sub Centre for relevant assistance failed to evoke any positive response.

According to one Sailem Ramson of Mantripukhri, who is rearing about 60 pigs in his farm at Luwang-sangbam, all his pigs have been administered 'Made in Korea' vaccine for controlling swine fever but about six of the pigs have been showing signs of ailment for about the last five days.

The suffering pigs are showing signs of food avoidance, passing of yellowish urine and purple patches in most parts of the body, informed Ramson who desired that Government authentic and authorise the exact vaccine that needed to be administered.

He regretted that apart from the pig rearers facing an uncertain future consequent to apparent spread of the unknown disease of the swine population lack of initiative from the side of the Government to atleast prevent collateral losses amounts to leaving the hard-working pig farmers to face their own fate.

By reducing the pig farmers to a laughing stock by allowing sale of unauthorised vaccine rather than helping them in their hours of crisis what benefit do the department concerned expects, he posed.

It is pertinent to mention that the State's Veterinary Department has not only banned open sale/stocking of unauthorised vaccine including those made in Korea, but The Sangai Express had reported about some department personnel involved in administering the Korean vaccine.