Two cases of African Swine Fever have been reported from Kerala – one from Wayanad and the other from Kannur. The latest case has come to light from Nenmeni in Wayanad. Last week, over 300 pigs were slaughtered in Wayanad district to prevent the spread of the disease.
An official told PTI that a meeting has been called by the collector later in the day regarding reporting of the disease.
Meanwhile, the Animal Husbandry Department has issued an alert regarding the spread of the virus. Dr Rajesh, deputy director of animal husbandry in Wayanad, told PTI that 193 pigs will have to be slaughtered this week in and around the Nenmeni farm in Sultan Bathery to prevent the spread of the disease.
Wayanad alone has over 20,000 pigs in 222 pig farms. He said that samples would be taken from these farms under surveillance.
Last month, the state government had tightened biosecurity measures after the Center warned of African swine fever in Bihar and some northeastern states.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), African swine fever is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease of domestic pigs. It was first detected in Kenya, East Africa in 1921 as a disease that killed settler pigs. Contact with warthogs proved to be a significant factor in the transmission of the virus.
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