African Swine Fever Outbreak in Kohima

April 19, 2024

The department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) in Nagaland has successfully contained an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Kohima.

Detection and Containment Measures

The ASF case came to the attention of the AH&VS department when entrepreneurs Keleyol Vicho and Keyokul Rote reported unwell pigs on their farm to the concerned veterinarian. The department swiftly collected samples from the infected pigs and sent them for testing to ascertain the cause of the illness. Upon confirmation of ASF by two separate laboratories, the department implemented necessary protocols outlined by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to prevent further spread of the disease.
A team was dispatched to the infected area, located 3 km from Kidima village, and thorough disinfection processes were carried out at the farm to contain the disease. Sadly, all 62 infected pigs at the farm succumbed to ASF. The department also made efforts to sensitize people, including village leaders and villagers, on how to contain the disease and advised them not to come in contact with the infected area.

Origin and Transmission of ASF in India

According to Dr. Ilang, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, the first case of ASF in India was detected around 2020, suspected to have originated from China and entered through Arunachal Pradesh before reaching Nagaland.
The infected livestock in the current outbreak were believed to have been brought via Jalukie, although no cases of ASF had been reported from that area.
Ilang suspected that the virus might have entered from another location and urged people to report any suspected cases immediately to the department to prevent a larger outbreak.

Impact and Compensation of African Swine Fever

While ASF does not infect humans and poses no lethal threat to them, it causes severe economic losses for pig farmers. The affected entrepreneurs, Keleyol Vicho and Keyokul Rote, submitted an application for assistance to the department, which was forwarded to the District Disaster Management Authority for the allocation of necessary funds to mitigate the loss. The official also encouraged livestock farmers to insure their animals through national insurance companies to prevent widespread losses in similar cases.

About African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild pigs. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected pigs, contaminated feed, equipment, or clothing. ASF is characterized by high fever, loss of appetite, hemorrhages in the skin and internal organs, and death in 2-10 days on average. The mortality rate can be as high as 100% in acute cases. Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment available for ASF, making prevention and containment measures crucial in controlling the spread of the disease.

The outbreak, which was first reported recently, at a piggery farm in Kidima village, raised concerns among the public and authorities.

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