Thrissur: African swine fever eruption
A highly contagious and fatal disease affecting domestic and wild pigs has been discovered on a farm located in a village in the region. On Friday, Thrissur district kerala officials said.
However, the concerned officials and district collector have indicated that this is an outbreak of ASF that has seen 310 pigs culled at a private farm in Madakkathara panchayat in Thrissur District as the sickness can quickly spread from one pig to another through bodily secretions contact with infected person.
“Pigs reared by Kuttalapuzha Babu of Veliyanthara in District 14 have tested positive for the disease. The district collector has directed the district animal husbandry officials to cull and bury the pigs,” says an official release.
A team of doctors, livestock inspectors and attendants will carry out the culling process while additional initial disinfection measures will be put into place.
The epidemic area is one kilometer around from where the affected farm is situated while ten kilometers from there is an epidemic monitoring area.
The supply of pork from or to these farms; transportation within the area; transportation of pigs, pork and feed stuffs between this location and any other parts thereof; movement of such materials into this area from other regions are not allowed until further orders,” it stated.
Animal husbandry department will check if any pigs had been ferried from those affected farms within last two months thereby thoroughly checking all vehicles at check posts including other entrance points into thrissur or districts Pigs and pork should also be subjected to strict surveillance during that time.
After confirming its presence in Madakatala village preventive measures will be taken even in other areas of the district.
It must be noted that if outbreaks are reported elsewhere, concerned municipal/government secretaries, village officers as well as rural development officers should notify appropriate veterinary authorities who shall take necessary actions to contain its spread.
African swine fever (ASF), according to officials, is different from other fevers.
Authorities say that since the disease infects only pigs, it poses little risk of transmission to other animals or humans.
