Mokokchung, 19 September (MTNews): The Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) in Nagaland has issued a public appeal to address the ongoing challenges posed by the prevalence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in bovines within the state.
As the winter season approaches, the department is concerned that the incidence of these diseases may rise due to increased animal movement during festive, wedding, and other social gatherings. In response, AH&VS has released a set of crucial precautions to mitigate the spread of these diseases.
The issued dos and don’ts are as follows:
Dos:
Immediate Reporting: In case of unusual animal mortality, citizens are urged to report it promptly to the nearest Veterinary Centre. This is vital for initiating surveillance, diagnostic, and containment procedures by the Department.
Import Healthy Animals: Ensure that animals imported into farms or villages are certified as healthy and free from diseases.
Proper Feeding: Refrain from feeding pigs with swill and kitchen waste.
Safe Disposal: Do not consume the meat of dead animals. Instead, follow a deep burial method, burying the carcasses at least 6 feet deep and subsequently spreading lime or bleaching powder.
Environmental Care: Do not dispose of carcasses in rivers, canal streams, or water bodies.
Sanitization: Thoroughly sanitize areas, sheds, and troughs using the recommended disinfection solution.
Personal Hygiene: Practice good personal hygiene by washing hands, feet, clothing, and other items thoroughly with soap.
Veterinary Assistance: Seek the assistance of a veterinarian for proper area disinfection.
Zone Demarcation: Collaborate with the AH&VS Department to demarcate areas into Infected Zones, Surveillance Zones, and Free Zones to facilitate control and containment measures.
Don’ts:
Avoid Blind Diagnosis: Do not engage in blind or symptomatic diagnosis or provide unconfirmed reports to prevent false alarms among neighboring farmers and villages. ASF and LSD are notifiable diseases under “The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease Animal Act, 2009.”
Repopulation Caution: Do not repopulate pigs without consulting the Department, as there is currently no vaccine available to prevent ASF.
The AH&VS Department has emphasized the importance of these measures and called upon all stakeholders and citizens in Nagaland to actively participate in containing ASF and LSD within the state. These diseases are not only a threat to livestock but can also have significant economic and public health implications.
It is crucial for the public to adhere to these precautions, as notified by the competent authority, to prevent the further spread of these diseases. Only laboratory confirmation through “Nucleotide Sequencing” of PCR products and RTPCR from NIHSAD, Bhopal, India, can officially determine the presence of ASF and LSD in animals.
AH&VS Department appealed to all stakeholders to participate in containing ASF & LSD in the State.