May 30, 2023

Meghalaya, India, assures public that ASF does not claim human lives

The government of Meghalaya, India, has assured the public that there are no human casualties linked to African swine fever (ASF) in the state.

Meghalaya is in the midst of an ASF  outbreak.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AH&V) emphasised that the virus is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.

The AH&V department's Secretary in-charge, Dr. Manjunatha C, confirmed that only 22 pigs belonging to a single individual in Tiehsaw village, West Khasi Hills District, have succumbed to ASF. In response, Tiehsaw village has been declared the epicenter of the outbreak, prompting immediate containment measures to prevent further spread.

Addressing misleading reports, Dr. Manjunatha C clarified that the media claim of a human fatality in Tiehsaw village is false, as the person in question is alive.

The department urged the public to rely on accurate information.

- India Today NE