TURA, March 28: A considerable number of pigs reared in a government pig farm at Dalu in West Garo Hills have died over the past one week with veterinary officials securing the farm and dashing off samples for testing to government laboratories as suspicion hovers over possible outbreak of the African swine flu fever disease.

The government pig farm located 51 kms from Tura in the border region of Dalu rears dozens of pigs but the animals suddenly began to die raising suspicion and containment measures were taken up to prevent any spread of the contamination beyond the farm.

According to sources, the pigs are suspected to have died from hemorrhagic fever, a common symptom of swine flu, but veterinary officials are awaiting results from the tests.

West Garo Hills Deputy commissioner Swapnil Tembe said that veterinary officials in the district apprised him about the number of pig deaths at the government farm.

He said that samples have been dispatched for testing and measures put in place to contain the spread to the farm only.

While veterinary officials are doing a head count of the deaths, there are currently no further cases reported from other parts of Garo Hills. There are also currently no restrictions on the sale or consumption of pork in the Garo Hills region but veterinary officials and teams have been alerted to keep a watch out for any cases being reported elsewhere.

Sale of pork is expected to skyrocket by the 8th and 9th of April when people across Garo Hills celebrate the end of the holy season and the arrival of Easter when thousands of people make their way for picnic celebrations across riversides.

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