Source of origin outside state
Morung Express News
Kohima | July 17
The recent outbreak of African Swine Flu (ASF), in parts of Longleng, Mokokchung, Mon earlier this year and parts of Kohima and Dimapur thereafter, has triggered panic and fear among people who rear pigs in their home quarters and small scale pig farmers.
Many, particularly in villages, are staring at heavy losses and bearing huge burden from the sudden death of pigs.
High fatalities
In Viswema Village, where over 200 pigs have been confirmed dead from ASF by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS), Kebuho Hibo is among many facing the consequences.
At his piggery farm, located in his field at outskirts of the village, 13 pigs out of the 18 he had been rearing have died.
"The deaths were sudden, few of them had lost appetite for a day before its death," Hibo recalled.
According to information on the recent outbreak in the State furnished by the AH&VS’s ASF Core committee, 6403 pigs have been confirmed dead from the disease.
Outside origin
After the first cases in 2022 were reported from Longleng District, Mokokchung, and Mon in April, Kohima and Dimapur in June also reported the fever with high mortality.
For the state, the first-ever outbreak had occurred only last year at Kiphire in April and later in Phek, the next month.
As an emerging new disease in India, the Committee said neighbouring states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur had already reported cases of ASF before Nagaland, indicating that the source of origin of the disease appears to be from outside the state due to import and sale of pigs.
In this regard, the department had earlier shared concern over abolishing of all Veterinary checkposts which has made situation harder for carrying out containment measures.
In view of the situation, the department informed that "the closure of veterinary check posts has been partially lifted by the government. 13 inter-state checkposts are being permitted to function."
Symptoms and measures
While many had feared that their pigs would be infected by the fever, when asked if there are accompanying symptoms leading to sudden deaths of pigs, the Department's ASF Committee clarified that the disease maybe demarcated into three forms - Acute, Sub Acute and Chronic, based on the duration of sickness.
It identified symptoms like "high fever, lack of appetite, lethargy to almost sudden death with purplish colouration of ears and front portion (ventral) of body."
In the wake of the outbreak where certain areas have been demarcated into 'infected, surveillance and free zone', the department said it was an effort to contain the disease at recently confirmed epicentres.
As per centre's guidelines for control and containment of ASF, an infected or surveillance zone shall be declared free after a period of 6 months from the last confirmed case.
Consumption of sick or dead animals not advisable
According to villagers, "slaughtering pigs before any of such occurrence will save from huge losses." As such, many have been following the practice.
Even the department in this line has said that "slaughtering of apparently healthy pigs in surveillance zone voluntarily by owners is not illegal." The Committee however said that although "transmission of ASF to humans is not reported till date, any dead or sick animals should not be used for human consumption as it poses danger of contamination and spreading the virus further."
On reporting, claims and compensation
Informing on whether, the department is providing any form of compensation for those who have accrued heavy losses due to death of pigs from ASF, the ASF Committee stated that "proper documentation is necessary with photo evidences, owner's name, address and particulars of the animals. The local authority (panchayat/colony chairman) may compile the report and documents and coordinate with the respective Chief Veterinary Officer."
Apart from that, compensation for culling (selective slaughtering) of animals in the infected zone shall be through the department of AH&VS.
