ASF reported at Hiyanglam pig breeding farm
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, June 25 2022: Cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been reported at the Government Pig Breeding Farm located at Hiyanglam Makha Leikai under Kakching district.

Subsequently, district authorities have immediately banned sale of pig, pork feed and related items in and from Hiyanglam area.

It may be mentioned that the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry had been keeping a variety of pigs imported from United Kingdom (UK) for breeding purposes at the campus of Pig Breeding Farm of Veterinary Dispensary, Hiyanglam Makha Leikai.

In the last few days, some of the pigs kept at the farm had been dying one after another due to an unknown disease after which their samples were sent for examination and found positive for African Swine Fever (ASF) disease.

On confirmation of the dis ease, district magistrate of Kakching Somorjit Salam issued an order on Friday declaring Control Areas for African Swine Fever (ASF) at Pig Breeding Farm, Hiyanglam under Kakching district with immediate effect to prevent spread of the disease in the area.

The order also notified that there will be complete ban on sale of pig, feed and other related items in the area along with declaring the area falling within 1 km from the epicentre of the disease as 'Infected Zone' and areas falling within 9 km radius as Surveillance Zone' for taking up control and containment procedures.

Meanwhile, Pig Breeding Farm, Hiyanglam piggery specialist Dr RK Harshyam has revealed that the pigs kept at the farm are of the variety that was imported from the UK by the government in October 2021 for breeding purposes.

After the pigs kept at the Farm started perishing in quick succession, test samples were sent to for testing which come out positive for ASF on June 23, he added.

Dr RK Harshyam also informed that as soon as the pigs started dying the Farm was sanitised as precautionary measure.

As the test results have confirmed ASF, the areas that have been declared as 'Infected Zone' will be deeply sanitised again from Sunday morning onwards, while surveillance will be taken up in areas under 'Surveillance Zone', he added.

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