The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) on Wednesday launched an inactivated classical swine fever virus vaccine for pigs.
According to a handout, the vaccine is used for active immunisation of pigs against classical swine fever. The vaccine is supplied in liquid form in bottles, wherein the number of dose contained in each bottle is sufficient to vaccinate 50 pigs.
Briefing newspersons on the sidelines of farmers meet, convened as part of the international conference on emerging and transboundary diseases of global importance here, Dr R Prabakaran, Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS said that the vaccine is the need of the hour. “A similar swine fever vaccine developed by another institute is not available in the market. We have developed this vaccine for the benefit of our farmers,” he added. Though the vaccine has been released after laboratory tests, it would be distributed to farmers for field data, he stated. The Vice-Chancellor said, approximately five lakh pigs are being reared in Tamil Nadu. “Swine fever is confined to pigs. The vaccine provides protection against the classical swine fever and the immunity lasts for six months,” he said, adding it would help the growth of pig rearing in the State.