Swine Fever | Meghalaya banned Inter-district transportation of pigs

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 2, 2020

The state government has decided to stop inter-district transportation of pigs to prevent any possible outbreak of African swine fever in the state.

Earlier in view of large scale death of pigs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh due to the contagious disease, the government had immediately banned transportation of pigs from other states into Meghalaya.

After a review meeting on Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that the African Swine Flu has affected large number of pigs in the North East states, according to report received from the ICAR, Bhopal.

Tynsong, who is also holding charge of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department, however said so far, not a single case of swine flu has been reported in the state.

“In view of this, we have decided that to further put on hold transportation of pigs from other states till further orders. We have also issued an order that inter-district transportation of pigs will also be stopped with effect from today,” he said.

The deputy chief minister further informed that all district veterinary officers have been alerted and directed to conduct regular visits to all government and private pig farms to monitor the health condition of the pigs and ensure there is no spread of the disease in the state.

The principal secretary in-charge of AH & Veterinary Dr Shakil P Ahammed in a separate statement said all government and private pig farms and pig farmers are directed to take adequate measures for strict hygiene and bio-security such as disinfection of the farms, equiments etc and restricting entry of any outside person into pig farms.

It is advised that people should consume pork only after cooking adequately (above 70 degree Celsius for at least 20 minutes), the statement said.

It also stated that signs of high fever in pigs and any unusual death of pigs should be brought to the notice of the district and sub-divisional AH & Veterinary officers. People can contact 9863316850, 9436119910, 8414953455 for any information, it added.