After CORONA Assam now facing threat from African Swine Fever

Pashu Sandesh, 06 May 2020

As Assam is battling with the CORONA virus pandemic, another threat came knocking on the doors in the form of African Swine Fever (ASF). On 28 April 2020, India reported the first African Swine Fever disease outbreak in the state of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Incidentally like CORONA virus, African Swine Fever virus has come trans-border through China is threatening the big Pig industry of these States. CORONA virus spread and the subsequent countrywide lockdown is already threatening the Indian economy and smaller states such as Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with limited sources of revenue are bound to feel the heat. The disease has killed around 2500 pigs across 306 villages across Assam.

Chief Minister of Assam Sarbadanand Sonowal is a worried man now. As the Head of the State, he has to ensure the health of his people as well as the Economy. He has asked the Veterinary and the Forest departments of his state to work closely with the National Pig Research Center to draw a plan to save the Pig population of the state. He also urged all the stakeholders to ensure containment of the disease through hygiene and distancing protocols, in the absence of an effective Vaccine. Center has allowed the Assam Government for the culling of the infected Pigs but Assam Animal Husbandry Department is adopting a wait and watch approach till now.

African Swine Fever was first described in 1921 in Kenya.^[The disease remained restricted to Africa until 1957, when it was reported in Lisbon, Portugal in 1960. ASF virus is a highly contagious DNA virus which spread in Pigs through direct contact and eating contaminated food. There is no report of transmission in Humans. The signs and symptom include loss of weight, internal haemorrhages, swollen joints and fever with high mortality.