September 8, 2022

ASF confirmed in Mansa district, Punjab, India

African swine fever (ASF) virus was detected in some samples from Talwandi Aklia village in Mansa district, Punjab, India, following which the area has been declared as an infected zone for the prevention of the contagious disease that affects the pigs.

"After confirmation from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) -National High-Security Animal Disease Institute, Bhopal, the Animal Husbandry department has strictly enforced restrictions and declared 0-1-kilometer area of the epicenter as "infected zone" and 1-10km (9km) area as "surveillance zone" to prevent the disease in the district," said Laljit Singh Bhullar, Punjab's minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development.

"The departmental officials have also been instructed to ensure that no live or dead pig, including feral or wild, unprocessed pig meat, feed, or any material or goods from the piggery farms or backyard piggery shall be taken out of or brought into the infected zone."

The ministry has also ordered that no person should bring or attempt to bring into the market any pig or pig products, which are known to be infected with the ASF.

Earlier, the viral disease was detected in the Golaghat district of Assam and Wayanad in Kerala. Approximately, 43 pigs died in Kerala and few showed signs of illness. Amid fears of the disease, authorities in Punjab have neutralised as many as 735 swines in the affected districts, like Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, SBS Nagar and Fazilka.

However, the government said it has ensured that those involved in pig farming should not suffer losses due to these cullings. Compensation will be given for the culling done by the department within the "infected zone" of 1km radius of the epicenter notified by the department.

Urging pig farmers to cooperate in the culling of their swine, the department said that there will be no compensation if the affected pig dies on its own.

- ANI