Movement of Pigs & Pork Products Banned Across the Islands
Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 16: An outbreak of African Swine Fever has been confirmed in pigs in some parts of Sri Vijaya Puram and at Arong, Car Nicobar, Nicobar District. The confirmation is based on laboratory test results communicated by the Director, ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal.
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. It does not infect humans and poses no direct risk to human health. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for the disease. It can cause high mortality in pigs and economic loss to pig farmers.
In view of the highly contagious nature of the disease and to prevent its further spread, transportation of pigs, pork and pork products, including frozen products, has been restricted in the entire territory of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a preventive measure.
Accordingly, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has declared some parts of Sri Vijaya Puram and Arong, Car Nicobar as the epicentres of African Swine Fever and has imposed a total ban on the movement of pigs, pork and pork products throughout the Islands with immediate effect. No live pig, pig feed, pork or pork product shall be transported by any carrier, including by sea, road or air route, anywhere in the Union Territory. Sick or suspected pigs shall be isolated, and no carcass shall be disposed of in the sea, a creek or any water body. The restriction will remain in force till further orders.
Pig owners are advised to keep their pigs, whether apparently healthy or sick, confined and segregated as far as possible, and to prevent contact with pigs belonging to other households or farms. Any pig exhibiting symptoms of the disease or having come into contact with an infected pig shall be immediately reported to the Senior Veterinary Officer of the area for assessment and necessary action in accordance with the prescribed protocol.
Culling and disposal of carcasses, and of frozen meat, pork and pork products, through deep burial shall be undertaken under the supervision of the local administration.
Compensation, where admissible, shall be payable in accordance with the eligibility conditions, rates and procedures prescribed by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, after mandatory verification by the team constituted for the purpose.
Pig owners and the general public are requested to strictly comply with the movement ban across the Islands and follow the instructions of the veterinary authorities. There is no cause for panic among the public as the disease does not affect humans.