August 31, 2020

Assam, India, to keep ASF in check by culling 10,000 pigs

The government of Assam, India, will attempt to control the spread of African swine fever (ASF) by culling about 10,000 pigs from the first week of September.

Close to 18,000 pigs have died since ASF was first detected in May.

Veterinary department officials said they have no option but to continue culling in the 29 identified containment zones located in 14 districts of Assam, which has the highest pig population in India.

Pig farmers will be paid between ₹2,200 (US$30.07) and ₹15,000 (US$279) depending on the weight of the culled pigs.

In April, Assam suspended the trade of pigs and pork as well as movements connected to pig farms.

A containment zone has been demarcated within a radius of 1km of the affected area but a radius of 10km from the affected area is under surveillance. The entire culling exercise in the containment zones is expected to take a week.

"We could have carried out the operation in May but could not do so because of the floods. We need land to bury the carcasses which was not possible because most of the affected areas were submerged," said an official. "Now that the floodwaters have subsided in these areas, we need to go for immediate culling. An estimated 10,000 pigs will be culled and owners will be paid as per their weight."

The official added: "There will be no rearing of pigs for three months after culling. After this, we will go for limited rearing to see if the disease has been controlled. If there is no death for two weeks, we will relax the ban in the affected areas.

"If the ASF prevalence continues, we will have to resume the entire process of disinfecting and sanitising the infected areas. If not, pig farmers can resume normal activities after four months."

- The Telegraph Online