Pig deaths trigger panic

100 pigs and 5 dogs die due to unknown diseases at Badigeta village
Veterinary experts collect samples from the carcass of a pig at Badigeta village | Express
Veterinary experts collect samples from the carcass of a pig at Badigeta village | Express

MALKANGIRI:The death of around 100 pigs and five dogs due to unknown diseases at Koya-dominated Badigeta village, the Maoist hotbed under Kalimela block, during the last four days has triggered panic among the tribals.

At a time when swine flu is spreading its tentacles across the State with two patients in Koraput DHH testing H1N1 positive on Saturday, the incident has sparked off human infection fear among the villagers.
On being informed, a team of experts comprising Malkangiri Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Sarat Kumar Mishra, Additional District Veterinary Officer Subhasis Mishra and Research Officer Prabhukalyan Tripathy from Cuttack-based Animal Diseases Research Centre, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (VAS) of Motu Birendra Kumar Prusty and Korukonda VAS Rasmikant Paltasingh on Sunday visited Badigeta village and took stock of the situation.

They also collected samples from the carcasses and sick pigs which will be sent to the Animal Diseases Research Centre at Phulnakhara in Cuttack for test, said the Malkangiri CDVO and added that the officials are clueless about the cause of deaths.

The experts said it is being investigated whether the deaths were due to classical swine fever (CSF) or the dreaded Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) or any other reasons.
According to district veterinary department sources, as many as 35 pigs have died in the last four days.

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