Swine fever kills 1,300 pigs in Assam, farmers hit hard

The deaths, attributed due to classical swine fever, in Jorhat, Sibsagar, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Nagaon districts within a span of one week have hit the pig farmers hard, who are already reeling under the impact of the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The Assam government has dispatched teams of veterinary doctors after reports of the death of around 1,300 pigs in the state’s five districts.

Classical swine fever afflicts only pigs and not humans. The outbreak can be prevented through vaccination. (File photo/ Representative image)

The deaths, attributed due to classical swine fever, in Jorhat, Sibsagar, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Nagaon districts within a span of one week have hit the pig farmers hard, who are already reeling under the impact of the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The teams of doctors have been asked to probe the reason for the sudden outbreak of classical swine fever and suggest remedial measures, according to Atul Bora, the state agriculture and animal husbandry minister.

Dhireshwar Kalita, principal scientist at Assam Agriculture University (AAU), told journalists that the deaths were due to classical swine fever and not swine flu, or H1N1.

“Classical swine fever is a viral disease, which attacks pigs at this time of the year. However, this year the attack has been severe resulting in the death of a large number of pigs and mounting losses for farmers,” said Manoj Basumatary, president, North East Progressive Pig Farmers’ Association (NEPPFA).

Classical swine fever afflicts only pigs and not humans. The outbreak can be prevented through vaccination, he added.

Assam has the highest pig population in the country. The north-east consumes over 65% of the country’s total pork production and the region’s pork meat business is estimated to be around Rs 75,000 crore, according to the 20th livestock census data from 2012 to 2018.