Key points
- Swine fever confirmed in Kohima village of Nagaland
- Two zones were created to contain outbreak
- Virus kills up to 100 per cent of infected pigs
ISLAMABAD: Authorities in India’s insurgency-affected Nagaland state have imposed strict emergency restrictions after African swine fever was confirmed in P Khel area of Kohima village.
The virus, which is deadly for domestic and wild pigs with mortality rates as high as 100 per cent, poses no direct risk to humans but is a severe threat to livelihoods in this northeastern state where pork remains a dietary staple and a source of income.
The local authorities announced the measures on Monday, dividing the area into two control zones, an “infected zone” covering P Khel and a “surveillance zone” stretching 10 kilometres beyond the outbreak site.
100pc mortality rates
For Nagaland, already grappling with the shadow of insurgency and fragile economic structures, the outbreak has added another layer of concern for both animal health and food security.
Officials have banned pig slaughter, halted the import and export of pigs, and prohibited the transport of live pigs and pork products within the designated areas.
Enforcement is being coordinated by multiple agencies, including veterinary services, police, and municipal authorities.
Devastating livestock diseases
African swine fever has become one of the world’s most devastating livestock diseases, capable of spreading through direct contact, contaminated feed, and surviving in the environment for long periods.
In India, the term “swine fever” usually refers to African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, first confirmed in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in 2020. Another related disease, Classical Swine Fever (CSF), caused by the CSFV, has also been present in India since 1962 and is an endemic challenge to the swine industry. Both are distinct diseases, neither of which affects humans.
