Bishnupur, Nadirpar Village of Hajo Block Declared as Epicenter of African Swine Fever
Dispur,Rongili Barta- The Government of Assam has declared the Bishnupur Nadirpar Village of Hajo Development Block, Kamrup district as epicenter of African Swine Fever disease under the Prevention & Control of Infections and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009. The restrictions are applicable with immediate effect in all Villages within 1 Kilometer radius around the epicentre, designated as infected zones and all villages falling under the 10 Kilometer radius around the epicenter are designated as surveillance zone.
The restrictions in infected zone are –
1. No live pig or pig feed or pork and pork products shall be allowed to be taken out of or brought into the zone.
2. No carrier of goods or animals shall carry any animals from or out of the infected zone.
3. Carriage of animals (pigs) through roadways or railways through the declared infected zone is however allowed subject so long the animal is not unloaded in any place within the zone till the issuance of sanitization certificate by the competent veterinary authority.
4. No person is allowed to take out any pig alive or dead which is infected or suspected to be infected from African swine fever.
5. No person is allowed to carry any pig feed or breeding materials or other materials namely carcass, skin or other parts or products of such animals which has come in contact with any animal infected or suspected to be infected from African Swine Fever.
6. No person, organization or institution shall hold any animal market, animal fair, animal exhibition and carry on any activity which involves grouping or gathering of pigs within the zone. Provided that the competent Veterinary Officer may suomoto or on application made to him in this behalf, relax the provision in relation to other species of animals other than pigs, if he is satisfied that in the public interest it is necessary to accord such relaxation.
7. No person shall bring or attempt to bring into the market, fair, exhibition or other congregation or to any public place any of pigs which infected or suspected to be infected with African Swine fever.
8. The Chief Veterinary Officer or Competent Officer, if he thinks fit that an animal (pig) which is infected with a African Swine Fever and cuthanasia has to be resorted to, for preventing the spread of the disease to other pigs of the area, will issue direction in writing for cuthanasia of the animal in the infected zone and carcass to be disposed of by any manner to protect the public health and hygiene.
9. All Municipal, Panchayat or Village officials and all official of the Panchayat & Rural Department. Dairy Development Department, Revenue Department and Agriculture Department shall assist the Veterinary Officer and the Veterinarian in discharge of their duties or in the exercise of their powers under this Act.
10. Whoever places or causes or permits to be placed in any river, lake, canal or any other water body. the carcass or any part of the carcass of any animal which at the time of death was known to be infected, shall be guilty of an offence and punishable by imprisonment or fine or both.
11. Every Competent Officer. Director, Animal Husbandry &Veterinary Department and Veterinary Officer, while exercising any power or performing any duty under the said Act shall be deemed to be public servant within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)
Restriction in the Surveillance Zone –
1. All villages falling under the 10 (ten) KM radi of the foci of infection are also to be notified as ” Surveillance Zone”
2. All restrictions mentioned under Infected Zone will be applicable in “Surveillance Zone” except clause 10, wherein the animals will not be subjected to euthanasia.
3. All the pigs under the surveillance zone will be subject to intensive surveillance, which will include clinical surveillance, virological surveillance and serological surveillance
4. Intensified surveillance on the domestic pig population adjacent to forest areas will be carried in consultation with the Forest Department.