Punjab: African swine fever found in Patiala samples

CHANDIGARH: Punjab animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Friday said ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal has confirmed African swine fever (ASF) in swine samples sent from Patiala district.
Punjab is now declared as a “controlled area” with the object of preventing, controlling, eradicating ASF, exercising the powers under Section 6 of Chapter III of The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009. Bhullar said a notification has been issued and it has come into force with immediate effect. Bilaspur and Sanauri Adda villages in Patiala have been notified as epicentre of the disease. The minister said in compliance to chapters 7 and 8 of the “National Action Plan for Control, Containment and Eradication of African Swine Fever (June 2020)” of Union ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying, the areas that have been declared as “infected zone” include (0-1km area around epicentre of disease) and “surveillance zone” (1-10km area around epicentre of disease). He said inter-state movement of any pig or its belongings should be strictly banned.