In view of the dangers posed by African swine fever and bird flu, the state government has constituted a special taskforce in every block, headed by veterinarians, to monitor the death of pigs and poultry, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Prestone Tynsong said today.
“After the outbreak of the African swine fever a few months ago, we have issued a standing order where all veterinary doctors in the respective blocks have been asked to monitor carefully and to take samples and get them tested to confirm if the death of the pigs is because of the African swine fever or something else,” Tynsong told reporters.
With the swine fever brought under control the government then lifted the interstate ban on the import of pigs and halt to inter-district transportation. However, importation from other states still requires a health certificate from veterinary officers from the state of origin.
With the coming of bird flu to India, the Meghalaya government imposed a ban on the import of poultry, eggs and unprocessed poultry meat into the state and this ban remains in place.
However, despite the swine fever dropping off the radar of concern, the mysterious death of pigs was reported last week by some residents in the Pomlakrai area has raised fears once again.
Speaking to Highland Post, a resident of Pomlakrai-Mawbynna Khaprei, Phool Kharkongor, informed that a week back she lost 10 pigs worth Rs 1.5 lakh.
“I lost about 10 local pigs last week even though I had engaged a doctor from the Veterinary Department from Sanmer who came and gave my pigs all the medications and injections required,” she said, adding that her pigs started shivering last week and not able to consume food or water before one died after another, which was a great financial loss to her family.
“I have given the necessary medications to the pigs right from the time they were two months old but this time all of them died and I do not know the reason for the pigs’ death. I have properly buried all of them,” she said, adding that she heard that some of her neighbours also lost their pigs.
