Lakhimpur (Assam), September 4, 2023 (ANI): A team of veterinarians collected over 1,000 pigs to contain African swine fever at Lakhimpur in Assam, an official said on Monday. The infection is spreading.
        According to Kuladhar Saikia, livestock health officer of Lakhimpur district, “Due to the outbreak of African swine fever in Lakhimpur district, a team of 10 doctors slaughtered more than 1,000 pigs using electrocution.” That’s why nearly a thousand pigs were killed due to electrocution, health officials added.
       He added that the government has slaughtered 1,378 pigs in 27 epicenters to curb the spread of the disease in the northeastern state.
       Earlier this year, the Assam government banned the import of poultry and pigs from other states following outbreaks of bird flu and African swine fever in some states.
       Assam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine Minister Atul Bora said, “This step has been taken to prevent the spread of bird flu and African swine fever among poultry and pigs in Assam and other northeastern states.”
        “In view of the outbreak of bird flu and African swine fever in some states of the country, the Assam government has temporarily banned the import of poultry and pigs from outside the state into Assam through the western border. To prevent the disease, Atul Bora added: Having spread to Assam and other north-eastern states, we have imposed a lockdown at the state borders. “
        Notably, in January, the government slaughtered over 700 pigs amid the threat of African swine flu in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus of the family ASFVidae. It is the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF).
        The virus causes hemorrhagic fever in domestic pigs with high mortality; some isolates can kill animals within a week of infection. (Arnie)