Fresh outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Dimapur and Mokokchung districts have raised concerns of a wider spread of the disease across Nagaland, with veterinary officials warning that pig deaths are being reported from multiple parts of the state.
Speaking to MT, Dr Imtilong Longkumer, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, said “hundreds and hundreds” of pigs were dying from both reported and unreported cases across Nagaland.
“We have blood-tested and laboratory-confirmed cases only from Tuli and Chungtia so far, but pigs are dying everywhere across Nagaland,” he said, adding that the department has been dealing with ASF cases for a long time.
Pig farmers in affected areas also confirmed deaths among pigs, including pregnant sows, raising concerns over growing losses faced by households dependent on piggery for income and livelihood.
The remarks come amid intensified containment measures in multiple districts. In Dimapur, Deputy Commissioner Tinojongshi Chang declared a 1-km “Infected Zone” and a 10-km “Surveillance Zone” following laboratory confirmation of ASF in pigs at Signal Angami Village.
Movement of pigs, pork, pig feed, carcasses and other pig-related products into and out of the infected and surveillance zones has been prohibited, while slaughter, sale, transportation and congregation of pigs within the infected area have also been banned until further orders.
Meanwhile in Mokokchung, Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma issued an advisory after ASF outbreaks were reported from Chungtia village, Kangtsungyimsen village and Shitikolak ward under Tuli subdivision.
The administration advised the public to avoid buying and consuming pork in the affected areas and adjoining regions, while directing strict monitoring of pig imports and mandatory testing of pig consignments entering the district.
Dr Longkumer said there is currently no vaccination available for ASF and therefore the disease is also not covered under insurance schemes.
Expressing concern over the situation, he appealed to the public not to dispose pig carcasses on their own and instead report suspected cases to the Veterinary Department.
“There is not much one can do once infection spreads. The best thing is to maintain strict biosecurity and restrict visitors to farms,” he said.
According to him, ASF spreads through multiple routes, including ticks and swill feeding practices. He warned that feeding pigs with leftover food also remains a major risk factor.
“We rely heavily on leftover food to feed pigs, but the virus can survive even after cooking. It can remain active for six to nine months,” he said.
He further stated that ordinary household disinfectants such as Lizol may not be strong enough to contain the virus and recommended the use of stronger disinfectants containing chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite.
The official also said the infection may have entered through pig imports.
ASF is caused by the African Swine Fever virus, a highly contagious DNA virus in the Asfarviridae family affecting domestic and wild pigs.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the disease has become a major global threat impacting livestock economies and food systems across several countries in Africa, Asia and parts of South America.
WOAH states that there is currently no effective vaccine for ASF and recommends strict biosecurity, movement control, surveillance and proper carcass disposal as the primary methods for controlling outbreaks.
The organisation has also warned that “no country is safe from ASF,” particularly in regions with weak biosecurity systems and uncontrolled movement of pigs and pork products.
Veterinary authorities in Nagaland have urged pig farmers and the public to immediately report unusual sickness or sudden deaths among pigs as surveillance and monitoring continue in affected areas.