Assam govt bans inter-district movement of live pigs amid ASF

Assam government has banned inter-district movement of live pigs with immediate effect, amid an “alarming” rise in cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) across the state, officials said.
Sale of pork has also been prohibited in seven districts, which have reported high concentrations of ASF cases, an order issued by the animal husbandry and veterinary department said.
It said that ASF, with a 100 per cent mortality rate, has devastated the piggery industry in the state.
ASF cases have been “alarmingly rising” across the state with no bound since January this year, with 297 epicentres reported, spreading to almost all districts with more concentration in seven of them, the order said.
These seven districts are Dhemaji, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Darrang, Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
The order said 84 epicentres were notified during the month of October alone.
In view of the situation and under provisions of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, the inter-district movement of live pigs has been banned for the time being with immediate effect, and until further notice to prevent further spread of the disease, it added.
ASF in Assam was first detected in 2020 and since it has “devastated the piggery industry in the state”, said veterinary department.
Veterinary director told The Indian Express that this year alone, around 14,500 pigs have been culled to prevent further spread of the virus, and over 3,000 pigs have died of the disease.