African Swine Fever (ASF) has now spread to Charaideo, making it the third district in upper Assam to report an outbreak after Tinsukia and Dibrugarh. The Charaideo district magistrate issued a prohibitory order on Friday, banning the transportation, sale, and slaughter of pigs within the Mahmora revenue circle.
Prohibitory Order Issued
The order issued by District Magistrate Neha Yadav follows confirmation of ASF cases in pigs at Lukhurakhan Gaon, under the jurisdiction of the state veterinary dispensary, Moranhat, in the Mahmora revenue circle of Charaideo district. The confirmation came through laboratory tests reported by the in-charge district animal husbandry and veterinary officer, Charaideo.
According to the order, the transportation of live pigs and pork products has been prohibited within the Mahmora revenue circle. The sale of pork and pork products, as well as pig slaughter, buying, and selling, has been completely banned in the area. Any death of pigs within the revenue circle must be reported to the veterinary department, and carcasses are to be deeply buried following strict biosecurity protocols. All pig producers and breeders have been directed to maintain strict biosecurity measures, and any transportation of pig feed requires prior permission from the veterinary department. Violation of the order is punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Outbreak in Neighboring Districts
The outbreak in Charaideo comes close on the heels of ASF cases reported in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh in recent weeks, raising serious concerns about the disease's spread across the upper Assam region. Tinsukia was the first to report an outbreak, with Uttar Rangpuria village of Kakopathar under the Doomdooma Co-District declared the epicenter in late May. Tinsukia district commissioner Sumit Sattawan issued the first order on May 26, directing a three-day culling operation and imposing a 30-day ban on the sale and movement of pork across the Doomdooma Co-District. A fresh outbreak was then confirmed at Ouguri village of Rupai Siding under Doomdooma Development Block, with another order issued on June 8, directing further culling and extending the ban on pig trade and movement, including cross-border movement to and from neighboring Arunachal Pradesh.
In Dibrugarh, the outbreak was confirmed at Romai Kordoibum village in the Lahowal area, with 83 villages and settlements placed under Infected and Surveillance Zones. A complete ban on the movement of live pigs, pig feed, pork, and pork products was imposed on May 30, with all police stations directed to maintain strict vigil against unauthorized roadside pork selling.
Nature of the Disease
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. While it poses no risk to human health, it causes severe economic losses to pig farmers and the pork trade. The disease has no approved vaccine, making culling of infected animals and strict containment the only effective measures available to check its spread.
Advice to Farmers
Pig farmers in the affected areas of Charaideo have been advised to report any suspicious pig deaths or illness to the local Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department at the earliest. Authorities stressed that timely reporting is critical to effective containment.
With three districts in upper Assam now reporting ASF outbreaks within a span of approximately two weeks, authorities have appealed to farmers and traders across the region to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with containment measures.
