Pork price drops to Rs 180 per Kg; samples sent for lab test
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 12 2023:
While a large number of pig farmers are facing a big financial loss and a threat to their means of livelihood as many pigs have been found infected by a highly infectious disease, pork, a highly popular meat item in the State is now sold at Rs 180-200 per Kg.
On being contacted about reports of the unknown disease infecting pigs at different places, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Director Ng Ibotombi informed The Sangai Express that samples collected from pigs from four districts viz; Kakching, Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul have been sent to North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Guwahati.
"The test results are expected in the next couple of days and we will inform the people about its outcome as soon as the results are received", Ibotombi said.
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As of now, the department cannot specify the type of disease which is infecting pigs in the State, he said.
Nonetheless, the department is fully prepared to take up all containment measures in case any infectious disease is confirmed, said the V&AH Director said.
Although there are reports of infection and death of pigs at different places, the department has not yet received any such information or report from any farmer, he said.
In the meantime, there are reports of pork selling at throwaway prices of Rs 180-200 per Kg.
It is said that the price of pork dropped dramatically as a result of a price war among meat shops.
On receiving reports from some retired veterinary doctors of V&AH Department about infection and death of pigs in Kakching area, officials of Veterinary Office, Kakching were sent to those places.
They found some dying/dead pigs.
They immediately collected samples from those pigs and the same were sent to the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Guwahati.
Such samples were also collected from Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul districts and they too were sent to the same laboratory, Ibotombi said.
He then appealed to all pig farmers to inform nearest veterinary hospitals or Sanjenthong Veterinary Hospital if any of their pigs have fallen sick or are dying.
If a particular disease is found to be a common cause of the death of pigs in different places, the department and pig farmers shall work collectively so as to contain the infection.
Some people have been saying that there is an outbreak of suspected African Swine Fever in the State but it has not been confirmed yet, said the V&AH Director.
It will be known once the test results from Guwahati are received, he added.
He also appealed to all pig farmers to keep pig sties always neat and clean and follow scientific methods of rearing pigs.
Piglets should be vaccinated regularly once they are one month old and no stranger should be allowed in pig sties, he said.
If any pig has died of unknown disease, Veterinary officials should be informed immediately for sample collection.
People should not consume the meat of such dead pigs.
Rather the carcass should be buried in a pit after scattering lime and salt in the pit, the V&AH Director added.
On the other hand, Health Services Director Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang informed The Sangai Express that the department's Food Safety Officers have been instructed to determine the source of the pork which is being sold at the throwaway price of Rs 180-200 per Kg and also to check whether this pork is harmless to human beings.
However, the Health Department has no authority to check whether the pork sold at meat shops is infected or not, he said.
The department's role is limited to checking the condition of the meat/pork, how they are stored and whether they are hygienic or not, he said.
Consumption of pork infected by African Swine Fever or Classical Swine Flu will not cause any sickness or death to human beings but people will not get the full nutritious values which healthy or uninfected pork give, Dr Sasheekumar said.
It is the Veterinary Department's responsibility to check whether the pork sold at very cheap prices comes from infected pigs or not, he added.