Guwahati: Around 55 pigs were culled in Assam’s Nagaon district on Saturday after veterinary authorities confirmed an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at a private pig farm in Halowa village under Puranigudam, prompting containment measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Officials of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department confirmed the presence of the highly contagious viral disease at a farm owned by Arabinda Saikia, following which the district administration declared a one-kilometre radius around Halowa village an infected zone under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
A 10-kilometre radius around the village has been designated as a surveillance zone, with the sale, transport and movement of pigs, pork and pig-derived products prohibited until further orders.
The prohibitory order was issued by Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Debashish Sarma.
Acting on the district administration’s directive, officials of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department culled the infected pigs on Saturday as part of efforts to contain the outbreak.
Authorities have urged pig farmers in the district to remain vigilant and report any unusual illness or deaths among pigs without delay. Surveillance has also been intensified in the affected area to prevent further transmission of the disease.
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. Although it does not infect humans, it can cause significant economic losses owing to high pig mortality and the need for large-scale culling to contain outbreaks.