African Swine Fever confirmed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 13 2023: Some of the samples collected from pigs and sent to North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Guwahati have been found infected by African Swine Fever.

Of the many samples collected from dead pigs from different places of Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching and Ukhrul by Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department and sent to Guwahati for laboratory test, those collected from All India Coordinated Resource Project on Pig Farm have been found infected by African Swine Fever.

The farm is located within the premises of Central Agriculture University (CAU) complex, Iroisemba, Imphal West.

The test results of these samples were received last evening.

Subsequently, the District Magistrate concerned has declared the area within one Km radius of the particular piggery farm as Infected Zone.

Officials of V&AH Department would start culling all the pigs found/reared within the infected zone and carcasses would be buried five/six feet deep.

For the pigs culled by the department, the Government would pay compensation to the pig farmers, sources said.

Moreover, transportation of pigs/pork from and into infected zone would be banned.

Briefing media persons at their Sanjenthong office today, V&AH Director Dr Ng Ibotombi said that they received information of possible infection of pigs reared in the All India Coordinated Resource Project on Pig Farm on October 6 .

Of the 29 pigs reared in the farm, one died on October 9.A laboratory team of V&AH Department conducted post mortem of the dead pig.

21 other pigs died in the following days, Dr Ibotombi said.

Clinical samples of the dead pigs were collected and sent to Guwahati for laboratory test on October 10 .

Test results of two samples were received last evening and it was confirmed that the pigs were infected by the deadly African Swine Fever, said the Director.

African Swine Fever is a viral and highly infectious disease and it is also known as trans-boundary disease.

Fatality rate of pigs infected by African Swine Fever is usually 100 per cent.

As of now there is no vaccine against African Swine Flu although one prospective vaccine is in the trial stage in Vietnam, he said.

One common disease of pigs in Manipur is Classical Swine Fever but African Swine Fever which has been detected in pigs reared in CAU complex is far more deadly.

Considering the highly infectious nature of African Swine Fever, V&AH Department has initiated necessary control and containment measures, claimed the Director.

So far, 15 samples of dead pigs collected from Moirang (Bishnupur district), Kamuching (Imphal East) and Ukhrul have been sent to Guwahati for laboratory tests, he said.

Following confirmation of African Swine Fever at CAU complex, V&AH Department has sent a report on control and containment measures to the Imphal West District Magistrate, Dr Ibotombi conveyed.

Meanwhile V&AH Department's Rapid Response Team today initiated necessary containment measures at CAU complex and surrounding areas, he said.

Rapid Response Teams of Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, Bishnupur, Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Noney, Chandel and Tengnoupal too have been put on high alert.

Necessary measures would be taken up based on the results of the samples sent to Guwahati, he said.

Dr Ibotombi said that African Swine Fever only infects pigs and it is not transmitted to other livestock or wild animals.

Moreover, African Swine Fever does not infect mankind, Dr Ibotombi said.

While the area within one Km of CAU's piggery farm would be declared as infected zone, an area within a 9 Kms radius would be declared a surveillance zone.

Surveillance and containment measures would be taken up within 10 Km radius of the piggery farm, he informed.

Some common symptoms of ASF are high fever, weakness and difficulty in standing, vomiting, diarrhoea, red or blue blotches on the skin (particularly around ears and snout) and coughing or laboured breathing.

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