Shillong, May 2: Transportation of pigs from one district to another in Meghalaya has been stopped for two weeks to prevent any possible outbreak of African swine flu in the state.
Transportation of pigs from other states has been banned last week following death of several pigs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Quoting a report received from the ICAR, Bhopal, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters on Saturday that the African Swine Flu has affected many pigs in the Northeast.
The deputy chief minister who is also in-charge of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department, said that so far, not a single case of swine flu has been reported in the state but it was decided to further put on hold transportation of pigs from other states and inter-district transportation of pigs should be also stopped with immediate effect.
“All district veterinary officers have been alerted and directed to conduct regular visits to all government and private pig farms to monitor the health condition of pigs and ensure there is no spread of the disease in the state,” he said.
The principal secretary in-charge of AH & Veterinary Dr Shakil P Ahammed in a separate statement said all government and private pig farms and pig farmers are directed to take adequate measures for strict hygiene and bio-security such as disinfection of the farms, equiments etc and restricting entry of any outside person into pig farms.
People are advised to consume pork only after cooking adequately (above 70 degree Celsius for at least 20 minutes).
The government said that signs of high fever in pigs and any unusual death of pigs should be brought to the notice of the district and sub-divisional AH & Veterinary officers.
For any information, people can contact at 9863316850, 9436119910, 8414953455.
