By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: African Swine Fever (ASF) concerns have prompted Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district administration to restrict the entry of live pigs and pork products from Assam’s Tinsukia district.
District officials announced the preventive measure through an advisory issued on Monday, stating that the restrictions will remain in force for the next month to prevent the disease from spreading into the district.
Residents, pig rearers and livestock traders have been directed to comply with the order. Authorities warned that violations could attract action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.
The order prohibits the movement or purchase of live pigs, piglets, pork and related products originating from ASF-affected areas, including Tinsukia and other affected locations.
Farmers have also been advised to stop feeding pigs with kitchen waste, which is considered a major pathway for the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, the veterinary department has introduced biosecurity measures for farms, including the use of disinfectant footbaths, farm-specific clothing and footwear, and restrictions on the entry of visitors and vehicles.
Pig-rearing units have also been asked to maintain strict hygiene standards through regular sanitisation of sheds, feeding equipment and surrounding areas.
Officials have urged farmers to remain alert for symptoms such as fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, skin discolouration, bleeding and sudden deaths among pigs. Suspected cases should be isolated immediately and reported to veterinary authorities.
The advisory further directs farmers not to dispose of carcasses in open areas, near roads or in water sources.
Dead animals suspected of infection should be disposed of through approved methods such as deep burial with lime or supervised incineration.
Officials said the district is taking early precautions to keep ASF out of Longding and avoid the impact the disease has had on pig farming in other parts of the region.