GUWAHATI: The Assam government has banned the inter-district movement of live pigs in the state to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).
The number of ASF cases has been alarmingly rising across the state since January this year. Authorities have identified 297 epicentres so far – 84 of them notified in October alone.
Assam has a sizeable pork-eating population with a thriving piggery industry. The state is also a major supplier of pigs to parts of the Northeast.
The ASF has spread to almost all districts, with more concentration reported from the seven districts of Dhemaji, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Darrang, Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
The Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department in an order said, “In exercise of power under Section 7, 10(1), 10(3), 10(4), 11, 12 and 13 read with Section 6 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, the inter-district movement of live pigs in the state of Assam is hereby banned for the time being with immediate effect and until further order to prevent further spread of the disease.”
The government further banned the intra-district movement of live pigs in the seven districts in question, along with the sale of pork in these districts, with immediate effect and until further order.
The ASF was also detected in Manipur’s Kakching and Churachandpur districts last week, prompting authorities to sound an alert and declare the affected areas as containment zones.