Nagaland: Pigs smuggled from Assam seized in Dimapur, four arrested

The Dimapur police, Nagaland seized a total of 12 smuggled pigs at 3^rd Mile, National Highway 29 on July 17^th, 2020 afternoon. The pigs were carried from Balijan in Assam on a pick-up truck.

Of the total pigs, eight were found dead. Classical Swine Fever is suspected as cause of death.

According to Dr KN Zubemo Humtsoe, in charge of the District Veterinary Hospital, a pickup truck, carrying 12 pigs were intercepted by the police at 3rd Mile (NH 29). He further said that the police arrested four persons and investigation was on.

Also read: Punjab urges Nagaland to allow transportation of pigs

Eight of the pigs were found dead at the time of the confiscation, while another died at the district veterinary hospital.  Post-mortem pointed to suspected Classical Swine Fever as the cause of death.

Formalities were underway to dispose of the dead pigs, while the live pigs will be quarantined for 7 days for observation.

“Serum samples will be collected from the live pigs and send to the laboratory in Kohima for confirmatory diagnosis,” he said.

On May 4th, 2020, Atul Bora, the Assam Minister for Agriculture and Veterinary said that 2,484 pigs in 306 villages across Assam have succumbed to death due to the African Swine Fever.

Amid conjecture that the recent outbreak of the African Swine Fever in the state is linked to the coronavirus (as both diseases are said to have come from China), Bora clarified that there is no evidence to suggest that. “There is no connection between Covid and the disease and people can still consume pork meat”, Bora said, adding that this has been confirmed by a panel of experts and scientists.

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