Imphal, Oct 26 (Waari Singbul Network): Manipur veterinary and animal husbandry (VAH) department has stepped up measures to combat African Swine Fever (ASF) as the contagious disease has been reported from pig farms in seven districts.

Imphal West, Imphal East, Ukhrul, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching and Kamjong are the affected districts, officials said.

The latest outbreak of ASF has been confirrmed at five piggery farms located at Lilong Chajing Mamang Leikei, Konthoujam Maning Leikai, Loitang Khunou, Luker and Sairemkhul in Imphal West district.

A notification issued by the deputy commissioner (Imphal West) on Thursday said that the particular farms have been declared as epicenters, and areas within one km radius from them as infected zone and areas within 10m km radius from the same as surveillance zone, and the whole areas have been categorized as controlled areas.

Signed by the additional deputy commissioner of the same district, the notification strictly prohibited movement of pigs (dead or alive) in the controlled areas, “movement and sales of pork and feed within the infected zone and materials that could have contacted the infected or suspected to be infected animals.”

“Culling of all pigs of the infected zone shall be done by the officials of Veterinary and Animal husbandry Department, Manipur,” it said.

“All equipment/ tools as well as vehicles used in the farms that are having pigs, either infected or suspected to be infected, shall be restricted from movement without protocols,” the notification added.

Taking into account the widespread of ASF in the state, the state VAH department has taken up stern measures to combat the epidemic across the state including the surveillance zones.

“Since the ASF has been confirmed following laboratory reports, we are working round the clock to combat further spread of the epidemic,” the department’s director Ng Ibotombi said on Thursday.

“We have fanned out four to seven teams of our department’s doctors and staff in every district of the state to fight spread of ASF. Besides taking up culling of pigs at the infected zone, they also intensified surveillance activities at the surveillance zones,” he added.

Awareness programmes have also been taken up at other ASF free districts, he said, adding that a state level awareness programme on it would held soon for ground works have been started, Ibotombi continued.

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