Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: The Meghalaya government has launched urgent containment efforts to stop the spread of African Swine Fever. The virus has reached multiple locations across the East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, West Khasi Hills, and Eastern West Khasi Hills districts.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services officially designated affected villages as infected areas under the 2009 Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act. These zones now face strict rules, including a total ban on the transportation of live pigs, pork products, and feed within a one-kilometre radius of infected sites. Authorities have also shuttered pig markets and abattoirs while suspending all local slaughtering operations.
Farmers must now enforce rigorous biosecurity measures, such as limiting farm visitors and disinfecting vehicles leaving any infected premises. Carcasses must be disposed of through deep burial with lime, and the dumping of remains into water bodies is strictly prohibited. To manage the risk of further spread, the state has established ten-kilometre surveillance zones where gatherings like livestock fairs and exhibitions are banned.
Confirmed cases include sites in Pynursla and Mawlai blocks, as well as the Base Pig Breeding Farm in Nongkasen. Veterinary teams continue to monitor the regions and collect samples to track the virus. Officials intend to maintain these controls until the threat to the state’s pig population is contained.
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