Nagaland: Mysterious swine disease triggers panic in Kiphire district

KOHIMA: A large number of pigs have mysteriously died in Nagaland's Kiphire district, raising concerns about a serious disease outbreak. Most of the deaths have been reported from Pongro village and its adjunct areas, officials have confirmed.

 

Dr. Wezolo Sami, the Chief Veterinary Officer of the district, today wrote to the Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary outbreak seeking assistance to curb the outbreak.

 

"A non-specific disease in pigs has been reported from Pungro and its adjoining areas villages which has caused a large number of deaths among the porcine species during the last few weeks," Sami wrote in his letter, adding, "As per the report from our field staff, the effected animal shows symptoms of inappetence with rising in body temperature. 5-10 days after farrowing followed by respiratory distress and death. It is also reported that affected animals do not respond to treatment."

 

 

Stating that the district doctors are "facing immense hardship to contain the disease outbreak", he complained in his letter.

 

"It is, therefore, I would like to request your Authority to look into the matter and send and expert team to investigate the outbreak and do the detailed epidemiological stud) for taking up necessary possible steps for containing the spread of disease on an urgent and also necessary medicines be provided at the earliest in order to mitigate the further livestock loss," he added.

 

It needs mention here that African Swine Fever -- a disease that is usually fatal to pigs -- surfaced in parts of the Northeast last year, driving many a pg breeder into penury. Several thousand pigs across the states of Meghalaya, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh died during the outbreak.