Samples from six previously affected districts reported negative
Animal Husbandry Minister urges pig farmers to adopt precautions to prevent disease
Chandigarh: Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Thursday, informed that African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed in swine sample sent from village Dhanaula of Barnala district, after which the area was declared as an Infected zone. He said that three suspected samples from district Sangrur have been found negative.
The Cabinet Minister said that after confirmation from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) -National High Security Animal Disease Institute, Bhopal, the area from 0 to 1 KM of radius from the epicenter in village Dhanaula has been declared as "infected zone" while 1 to 10 KM (9 KM) area declared as "surveillance zone". Thus, No live or dead pig, its meat or any related material shall be taken out of or brought into the infected zone. The officials of the department have also been instructed to keep a strict vigil in the surveillance zone, he added.
Giving details of six previously affected districts of the state, Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that after completing swine culling in declared infected zones to prevent further spread of the disease in the districts of Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, SBS Nagar, Fazilka, Faridkot and Mansa, all the samples sent again from these areas have been found negative.
Urging pig farmers to restrict movement of swine from one place to another, the Cabinet Minister said that they should also be strictly prohibited pig traders or businessmen from visiting their farms and prepare swine feed on their own at their pig farms as this disease can only be prevented by adopting precautions.