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Fear of African swine fever grips part of the Indian state of Assam
The fear of African Swine Fever has gripped the Dibrugarh district of India's north-eastern state Assam, after 21 pigs died of the disease during the last month, confirmed a veterinary doctor to Xinhua over phone on Sunday (July 17).
"After 21 pigs had died last month, a few samples were sent for medical examination at a lab and the disease was confirmed. All the pigs that had died last month belonged to the same poultry farm located in a village. We alerted all areas in the immediate vicinity, and called for culling of the pigs suffering from the disease," said Dibrugarh Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Officer Dr. Himandu Bikash Barua.
Quoting experts, media reports said that the African Swine Fever does not infect, or spread to humans even though it is deadly and highly contagious for pigs.
Since the disease is highly communicable and has no vaccine, the state government has urged local residents to avoid eating pork, said a media report.
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. ASF is a different disease to swine flu
In its acute form the disease generally results in high mortality.
The virus does not affect people and there is no impact on human health.
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In the acute form pigs develop a high temperature (40.5 degrees C or 105 degrees F), then become dull and go off their food.
Other symptoms are included, such as vomiting, diarrhea, reddening or darkening of the skin, particularly ears and snout and weakness and unwillingness to stand.
levantnews-xinhua
