CAU objects Govt order on ASF epicentre
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 16 2023:
The recent government order declaring the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal as the epicentre of African Swine Fever following confirmation of ASF on sample of the dead pig at the pig farm of All India Coordinated Research Project on Pigs, CAU on October 6, has misled the public about the university, said project coordinator and CAU College of Agriculture assistant professor Mangsatabam Norjit.
Addressing a press meet at the head office of CAU at Lamphelpat, on Monday, Norjit said that there are multiple reports of pigs dying in different parts of the state showing symptoms similar to African Swine Fever since the past couple of months.
As an institute, CAU advised farmers to take precautions to prevent further spread of the disease and also to inform the veterinary department.
Amid such situation, reports of multiple pigs dying in Ukhrul, Kakching, Bishnupur, Imphal West and Imphal East, as well as selling pig meat at almost half the usual price went viral on social media.
Since the veterinary department did not collected sample and sent for test, there was no confirmation of ASF in those highly affected areas.
The confirmation came when CAU sent samples from its own farm when a pig died and it came in the public domain.
Keeping in view of the deaths of numerous pigs in different areas in highly suspected manner, CAU thinks that declaring the university as the epicentre of the disease lacks rational.
The government order has put the university in bad light as if the disease spread from the university, he said.
The assistant professor also reminded that ASF was first detected in the state in 2020-21.It is a highly contagious disease for pigs with a morbidity rate of over 90 per cent.
The virus is a DNA virus, which can survive up to minus 20 degree Celsius.
Fortunately, it does not transmit to human but there is neither vaccine nor treatment for the disease.
The only treatment option is to treat the symptom, he added.