India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services recently conducted an awareness program on African swine fever (ASF) for pig butchers and traders at the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) conference hall in Dimapur, Nagaland.
Twenty participants attended the program, including members of the Pork Butchers Union, officials from the Veterinary Public Health Cell under the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), and pig traders.
District Livestock Development Officer, Vikshe Sumi, sensitized participants on ASF, a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs with nearly 100% mortality.
He explained that the disease spreads rapidly through infected pigs, contaminated pork products, equipment, vehicles and clothing. However, ASF does not affect humans and is not a zoonotic disease.
Dr Sumi highlighted the signs and symptoms of ASF and urged participants to procure pigs only from ASF-free farms with proper health certification.
He cautioned against selling, transporting or processing sick or dead pigs, as such practices contribute to the spread of the disease.
He also stressed the importance of avoiding swill feeding, noting that feeding pigs with kitchen waste or food scraps can facilitate ASF transmission.
Participants were advised to adopt strict biosecurity and disinfection measures at stockyards, slaughterhouses and meat shops, and to immediately report cases of sudden pig deaths, high fever, skin hemorrhages or abnormal behavior to the nearest veterinary health center or hospital.
Emphasizing the role of butchers and traders in disease prevention, Dr Sumi said they play a crucial part in protecting the livelihoods of pig farmers as well as safeguarding their own businesses.
Participants were also briefed on the National Action Plan for Control, Containment and Eradication of ASF and the protocols to be followed during disease outbreaks.
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Akumna Tzudir, spoke on meat hygiene practices, stressing the need for personal hygiene, maintaining clean and fly-free meat stalls, and the responsibility of pig traders and butchers in safeguarding public health.
The department also informed participants that Nagaland imports around 40-50% of its pigs from other states, including Punjab, Haryana and Karnataka. Imported pigs are supplied only after obtaining health certification from qualified veterinarians at the source.
In addition, testing for ASF and classical swine fever (CSF), particularly during outbreaks, is conducted at the Assam border, while department officials carry out physical examinations and disease surveillance at interstate entry points into Nagaland.