Shillong, Jun 3: There is so far no sign that consumers are worried about the latest outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the state, with the sale of pork continuing as normal.
This was informed by the Khasi Jaintia Pig Butcher Association secretary Andy Lyngdoh today. “To date the sale of pork is normal in the market and nothing has been disrupted,” Lyngdoh told Highland Post.
ASF poses no danger to humans but it has a high fatality rate among pigs and could devastate farmers’ incomes. The state government has put in place restrictions on the movement of animals, slaughter, sale and even burial of carcasses to try and contain the spread.
On consumption, Lyngdoh estimated that East Khasi Hills alone accounts for at least 700 pigs per day.
He also said that his association has not received any official communication from authorities regarding ASF. “We hope that if there is any such issue then the government would invite us and the farmers so that all inconveniences can be sorted out,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma urged caution but was not unduly worried about the latest outbreak of ASF.
“Basically, it has been a problem in the past also and we are monitoring the situation and we are taking immediate action on it,” Sangma told reporters.
Acknowledging concerns over the outbreak, he said such cases “keep on happening from time to time” but the [Animal Husbandry and Veterinary] Department is taking “all possible measures and steps to ensure that this does not spread into large scale.”
