The Assam government confirmed first cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the state. Since February, about 2,800 pigs have died in Assam due to the virus making the state the epicentre of ASF in India. However, according to local farmers, more than 30,000 pigs were killed in just two weeks.

The central government has instructed the authorities in Assam to go for culling of pigs infected by African Swine Fever. However, despite go-ahead from the centre, the state government will not immediately resort to pig slaughter and will follow an alternative strategy to prevent the spread of highly infectious diseases, said Assam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora.

The Departments of Veterinary and Forests are working together with the National Pig Research Center of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to draw up a broad roadmap to save pig population in the state from African Swine Fever.

According to a department census of 2019, the pig population in the state was 21 lakh, which has increased to around 30 lakh in recent times. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious pig virus. The illness generally results in high mortality in its acute form. ASF is a different form of swine flu disease. The virus has no effect on people, and no effect on human health.

ASF is extremely resistant to putrefaction and sunlight and can withstand frozen meat and carcasses for more than six months, and even longer. The virus is not related to the Classical Swine Fever (CSF) virus, although ASF signs and CSF may be similar.

Symptoms of the illness include loss of weight, intermittent fever, signs of breathing, chronic skin ulcers, and arthritis. High fever, anorexia, loss of appetite and haemorrhages in the skin are characterized by acute forms of ASF. Chronic forms are caused by viruses low in virulence. The mortality rates of the disease are low, ranging from 30 to 70 per cent.

NO RELATION WITH COVID-19

The disease has no relation to COVID-19 whatsoever. The Minister said the disease was initially reported from areas in China on the border of Arunachal Pradesh in November-December 2019. In mid-April, pigs began to die in the eastern part of Assam.

This case has been identified for the first time in domestic pigs in India; Assam believes that the virus has come from China just like the novel coronavirus. ASF destroyed about 60 per cent of China's domestic pigs between 2018 and 2020.

CURRENT SITUATION IN ASSAM

Carcasses of 28 pigs have recently been found floating from a stretch of the Brahmaputra River that passes through Kaziranga National Park, raising questions about pollution of river water.

The Minister also called on neighbouring states to ban all forms of drifting as the virus spreads over pig meat, saliva, blood and tissue. In addition, the State has a supervisory zone within a radius of 10 km.

Assam heads the market for Rs 8,000 crore pork in the northeast with over 21 lakh pigs in the state and the disease could prove disastrous to the government meat industry.

The government has formed district-level committees to implement guidelines such as pigs won't be allowed to roam freely and the farmers will have to keep them in enclosures.