2600 pigs dead in Assam as African swine fever grips north-eastern state

2600 pigs dead in Assam as African swine fever grips north-eastern state

Even as the country is reeling under the deadly spread of coronavirus, Assam has been gripped by African swine fever which has resulted in the deaths of 2600 pigs so far, state's Animal Husbandry Minister Atul Bora told ANI.

Bora, however, said the state government will not go for the culling of the animals for the prevention of the deadly disease, but is taking "bold steps" such as making containment zones within one kilometre of the infected areas, and surveillance zones within 10 kilometres radius to ensure the swine fever does not spread.

Speaking on the origin of the spread, Bora informed that the swine fever was first reported in Africa in 1921, and later spread its legs in different parts of the world.

The African swine fever was last reported in April 2019 in China's Jinjang province which shares border with India, and was later spread in Arunchal Pradesh in January 2020, and then in Assam in February this year, Bora added.