Rapid Action Teams Constituted at Block Level in Each District of African Swine Fever Infected and Surveillance Area

• 07 Feb 2023

Whay In News?

• On February 6, 2023, Director of Rajasthan Animal Husbandry Department Dr. Bhawani Singh Rathore said that taking serious note of the cases of African swine fever in the state, the Animal Husbandry Department has constituted block level teams in every district of the state.

Key points

• Dr. Bhawani Singh Rathore said that all to prevent and diagnose the disease by these teams formed based on infected zone, surveillance zone and free zone by reaching the place of movement of infected and pig breed animals' possible action is being taken.
• Samples of infected and dead pigs are being collected by the teams constituted and sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Nishad Bhopal for confirmation of African Swine Fever Disease.
• Dr. Bhawani Singh Rathore said that in view of the sensitivity towards the disease, an alert will be issued to the departmental officers and to protect pig breed animals from this disease and to protect the cattle owners from economic loss, disease survey, disease diagnosis, restricted in the affected areas of each district and free areas 'area specific action' will be executed.
• Infected animals and other pigs that came in contact with pigs will be scientifically euthanased, disinfection of the area, vector control, bio-waste, animal feed and other wastes etc. will be disposed of so that the disease can be controlled.
• At the same time, action is being taken in coordination with the Forest Department and other concerned departments for disease outbreak control in wild boars.
• African swine fever is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease occurring in domestic and wild pigs. Other symptoms of this disease include high fever, depression, anorexia, loss of appetite, skin bleeding, Diarrhea etc.
• African swine fever was first detected in Africa in the 1920s. Historically, infections have been reported in parts of Africa and Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.
• However, since 2007 the disease has been reported in domestic and wild boars in many countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.
• It has a mortality rate of about 95-100% and there is no cure for this fever, so the only way to stop its spread is to kill animals. African swine fever is not a threat to humans, as it is only transmitted from animals to animals.
• African swine fever is a disease listed in the Animal Health Code of the World Animal Health Organization (OIE).