According to the Assam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora, the Central Government has advised the State government to go for the culling of pigs affected by the African swine fever (ASF).
He also said that after a lab in Bhopal attributed the death of thousands of pigs to the first-ever case of ASF in the country, the state was told to cull the animals in the affected areas.
The disease was first reported in November-December 2019 from areas of China bordering Arunachal Pradesh.
About African swine fever
- African swine fever (ASF) is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs;
- This transboundary animal disease (TAD) can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild, and pork products;
furthermore, transmission can also occur via contaminated feed and fomites (non-living objects) such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment etc., due to the high environmental resistance of ASF virus. - There is no approved vaccine against ASF.
- Humans are not susceptible to the African swine fever virus.
