Vet Director confirms swine fever in Moreh town
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 09 2016:
Veterinary Director Dr N Rajendro has confirmed the outbreak of swine fever in Moreh town of Chandel district today.
Disclosing the reports to media persons, Dr N Rajendro said an expert team from Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry along with Disease Investigation Laboratory Principal Disease Investigator Dr Ng Ibotombi reached Moreh town yesterday to study the cause of swine deaths in the area.
About 20 pigs have reportedly died in different parts of Moreh in the last two days.
The team confirmed that all the deaths were caused by a highly contagious swine fever.
They inspected pigs reared in Moreh Ward Nos 7 and 9.The team found 14 pigs infected by the disease.
Nonetheless, the pigs have started recovering after they were given anti-biotics and other supportive therapy by the expert team.
Swine fever which is caused by a particular type of virus is not transmitted from pigs to human beings.
As such, people need not be panicky.
But, swine fever often proves fatal to pigs once they are infected, Dr Rajendro said.
Principal Disease Investigator Dr Ng Ibotombi said swine fever which broke out at Moreh was caused by a particular type of virus called Flavivirus.
Vaccination of pigs which have not been infected by the virus has started today.
He further urged all the pig rearers to vaccinate their pigs to avoid infection by swine fever.
In case a pig dies due to an unknown disease, the carcass should be buried deep, Dr Ibotombi said.
If pig rearers suspect that their animals are infected by swine fever, they should consult veterinary doctors and take the animal to a nearby veterinary hospital, if necessary.