Guwahati: As many as 22 districts in Assam have been affected by the spread of African swine fever, informed by the Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora.
He claimed that there is a greater risk of the infection spreading following lockdown.
While addressing a press conference here in Guwahati, the minister said that the sale of pig has been prohibited in Tinsukia and Sivasagar. “40,000 pigs have perished in Assam since March 2020. There are 72 locations where the virus may spread from. To keep an eye on the issue, we have established the 427 Rapid Response Team,” the Minister said.
900 pigs perished from the sickness this year while 500 were put to death by the government.
He added that the administration has launched specific initiatives to resurrect the pig industry in the state.
The minister added that the government will also provide the pig producers compensation. He said that pig farmers will get compensation up to Rs. 2200 for 15 kilograms of pig, Rs. 5800 for 15-40kg of pig, Rs. 8400 for 40-70 kg pig, Rs. 12000 for 70-100 kg and Rs. 15000 for pig weighing more than 100 kg.
The 22 districts in which the disease has been spread at Dhemaji, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Darrang, Udalguri, Baksa, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, Majuli, Dibrugarh, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Morigaon, Golaghat, Nalbari, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat.
Notably, Assam has now been confirmed to have African swine fever after a pig in Bhogali Pathar village of Dibrugarh, tested positive for the virus on Sunday. The killing of pigs has reportedly started in the region where the first incidence of African swine flu was reported.
Dist Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Officer in Dibrugarh, Dr. Himandu Bikash Barua, told news agency ANI that a sample of the pig had tested positive for African swine disease. Pigs with African swine fever experience fever, nauseousness, and diarrhoea.
“A farmer’s pig in the Bhogali Pathar area of Dibrugarh had a sickness. After inspecting the pig, a sample was taken and sent for analysis. The sample demonstrated the pig’s presence of African swine fever,” he said.