Amid COVID, African Swine Flu hits Assam; claims life of 13,000 pigs in the state

Amid the already raging COVID-19 pandemic, Assam has is now also facing another viral flu. The 'African Swine Flu' (ASF) has hit the state and the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, taking the lives of over 13,000 pigs in the region. In an emergency measure to control it from spreading any further, authorities have dug canals in the Agoratoli range to prevent wild boars from going to nearby villages carrying the infection as hosts. 

Read: WHO Terms COVID-19 '10 Times Deadlier Than Swine Flu', Lists Lockdown Relaxation Criteria

"The Kaziranga National Park authority has dug a two-km long and six-feet deep trench to protect its wild boars (also known as 'wild swine') from the outbreak of the contagious ASF," said Assam Animal Husbandry Minister Atul Bora. 

Read: WHO Chief Says COVID-19 '10 Times Deadlier' Than H1N1 Swine Flu

Infection spread to 6 districts

Last week the Minister had said that despite a go-ahead from the Centre, the state will not resort to the culling of the pigs immediately and will adopt alternative mechanisms to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease. 

According to the officials of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, the infection spread initially in six districts- Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and Jorhat in February but in the last few weeks, has also been detected in three more districts -- Majuli, Golaghat and Kamrup (Metro). 

The African Swine Flu Virus or the ASFV is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and exists in the wild through a cycle of infection between ticks and wild pigs, bushpigs, and warthogs.

(With Agency Inputs)

Read: African Swine Flu Detected In Assam; 2,500 Pigs Killed In 306 Villages

Read: CM Sonowal Orders Inquiry Into Swine Flu Cases In Assam