Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The Meghalaya government has implemented sweeping restrictions on the movement of pigs and pork products following confirmed cases of African Swine Fever in the East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, and Eastern West Khasi Hills districts. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary issued the order under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.
Affected areas include Pynursla, Mawlai, Mawthadraishan, Umsning, Bhoirymbong, and Mairang blocks. Authorities have also closed government-run pig breeding facilities in Nongkasen and Kyrdemkulai. Officials established infected zones within a one-kilometre radius of affected premises, alongside 10-kilometre surveillance zones where livestock gatherings and pig movement are now prohibited.
Under these new measures, all local pig markets and abattoirs must close until further notice. The transport of live pigs, feed, and pork products is strictly banned in and out of infected areas. Farm owners must enforce rigid biosecurity, restrict visitor access, and disinfect vehicles departing from affected sites. The department explicitly banned the disposal of carcasses in water bodies, warning that violators face potential fines and imprisonment.
Veterinary teams are currently conducting health monitoring and collecting samples to track the disease. Additionally, the Wildlife Division is monitoring wild boar populations to prevent the virus from spreading beyond domestic farms. The department is calling on all farmers and traders to comply with these regulations to protect the state's pig farming sector.
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