Assam government bans on sale and distribution of pork meat after a mysterious virus kills 1900 pigs

Guwahati, April 26: Assam government has bans the sale and distribution of pork meat in the state following a mysterious virus that has killed over 1900 pigs in six districts of the state.

Assam government has imposed a ban on the sale of swine and consumption of their meat in the state.

Assam Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Agriculture Minister Atul Bora said that, many pigs have been died infected by a mysterious virus and a total of 1964 cases have been reported from six districts of the state so far.

“Our veterinary doctors have collected the samples from the dead pigs and sent the samples to Bhopal based National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) laboratory. We are now waiting for the report. But, our government has decided to impose a ban on sale and distribution of pork meat in the state with immediate effect,” Atul Bora said.

The Assam minister also said that, the affected areas have been declared as containment zones to check the spread of the virus.

The affected districts are – Biswanath, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, and Jorhat.

On Saturday, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal held a meeting with the top officials and scientists of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department at Brahmaputra State Guest House in Guwahati and directed the department to conduct an inquiry into the pig flu cases in the state and take remedial measures at the earliest in the greater interest of farmers engaged in the piggery sector.