GUWAHATI: The Ri Bhoi district administration in Meghalaya has declared several villages as ‘containment zone’ because of pig deaths due to suspected cases of African Swine Fever.
Sources said the villages Umsawriang, Madan Nonglakhiat, Mawlyngkhung, and Syllei-U-Lar in Ri Bhoi district have been declared as containment zones.
The decision to declare containment zones was taken as per the protocol to prevent the further spread of the killer viral disease to other areas of Meghalaya.
It also allows the veterinary department to effectively trace and investigate the cases of death of the pigs.
To enforce containment measures, the district magistrate has also invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr PC) based on the recommendation of the District Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Officer of Ri Bhoi district.
Until further notice, the district magistrate has prohibited pig slaughtering and the sale of pork meat in the affected villages. This step is crucial in curbing the potential transmission of the disease.
In addition to this, all pig owners and farm operators have been instructed to maintain strict hygiene protocols and implement bio-security measures at all times.
Entry into the farm premises has also been restricted to essential personnel only and that too, as per the official order.