Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department clarifies
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 27 2013 : The State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department has clarified certain reports on the outbreak of swine fever and the use of Korean vaccine in the State that appeared in various editions of The Sangai Express.

A statement issued by Under Secretary (Vety & AH), Saichhingpuii said that the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries of the Government of India intimated all the States about the availability of swine fever vaccine with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, and requested them to procure the vaccine from the IVRI as per their requirements.

This was not a mandatory instruction for the States to procure the vaccine only from IVRI, but a request since IVRI had some stocks of the vaccine available with them, it said while mentioning that IVRI no longer has stock of the vaccine, and they stopped manufacturing it for some time as confirmed over the telephone by Officers of the Vety & AH Department.

Dismissing the reports which appeared in TSE (Apr 12&24) as false, the statement clarified that there is no ban on the use of swine fever vaccine manufactured by other manufacturers including those of Korea.

In the case of swine fever, there is only one serotype of the virus causing the disease throughout the world, and the different strains found are high and low virulent strains, which are prevalent wherever swine fever is found, including India and Korea (North & South).

This means that there is no separate 'Korean strain' or 'lndian strain' as reported in The Sangai Express on April 12 and 24 .

It also added that swine fever vaccine manufactured in India can be used in Korea and vice-versa.

Swine fever vaccine of Korean origin has been administered in different Districts recently and also in the past, and there has not been any adverse report of its use other than the lone alleged case of S.Noren of Heingang Chonthabi as reported in The Sangai Express, it pointed out.

In particular, it has been announced by the Veterinary Officer of Chandel District Council in the local press on April 19 and 20 that the Korean vaccine has been used in their District and it has been effective with no adverse effect.

There is, therefore, no question of pigs administered Korean vaccine being more susceptible to the disease, it contended.

"The report published in The Sangai Express on April 20 implying that pigs given the Korean vaccine are more susceptible to the disease is not supported by any scientific or thorough investigation," it stated.

However, it has to be noted that if swine fever vaccine is administered to a pig which is already infected with the disease, the symptoms appear quicker.

This is because the live attenuated virus contained in the vaccine will become active and it will induce the already present virus to produce more cell and tissue damage, it said.

The Veterinary & AH Department is preparing a schedule for vaccination of pigs in all the Districts in the near future which will be published for information of the public, it stated while adding that the Department also keeps ready stock of antibiotics, supportive medicines and vitamins for treating pigs infected with swine fever.

It further urged Pig farmers to contact the District Veterinary Offices for having their pigs vaccinated.

Informing that Pigs suspected to have swine fever should be isolated and treated with antibiotics and vitamins, the statement also informed the farmers to have the vaccination done only by trained technical staff of the Department as the vaccine has to be kept in cold storage till it is to be administered as otherwise the vaccine will lose its effectiveness.

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