HT Correspondent
JORHAT, June 2: The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department carried out culling of pigs on Sunday at the number 9 Line Naginijan Tea Estate under Selenghat Development Block, Mariani, in Jorhat district. The entire area was declared the epicenter of African Swine Fever (ASF) by the Jorhat district commissioner on May 31, following several cases of pig deaths due to the disease in recent times.
It may be mentioned here that six villages within a one km radius around the epicenter were designated as the ‘Infected Zone’, and 26 villages falling within a 10 km radius were designated as the ‘Surveillance Zone’ by the DC in the order passed on Friday, imposing several restrictions in both zones.
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A Jorhat district animal husbandry and veterinary official stated on Sunday evening that a total of 18 pigs were culled within the 1 km radius of the epicenter with the assistance of a 3-member team from Guwahati.
The team utilised a painless technique (electric shock) to euthanise the pigs, which were then buried in a large pit dug by an excavator, with chemicals used to sanitise the area. A sign was placed indicating that no activities should be carried out at the burial site.
The official mentioned that initially, the team faced resistance from pig owners, compounded by bad weather, as they were unwilling to have their pigs culled. However, after much persuasion and assurances of compensation as per government norms, they agreed to the culling.
Starting Monday, the department will conduct serum testing of pigs in the surveillance zone, comprising 26 villages within a 10 km radius of the epicenter.
It may be noted that 21 pigs died of African Swine Fever last month, following which the Veterinary Department took necessary steps to send the samples to the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL) in Guwahati.
