State on swine flu alert

Imphal, April 24: The classical swine fever (CSF) or hog cholera, which is a highly contagious disease of pigs and wild boar, has been detected and confirmed positive in some parts of Imphal East, Dr S Koute, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry has informed today.

Talking to media in his office chamber here, Dr Koute explained that the infectious agent responsible for swine fever is a virus known as CSFV (previously called hog cholera virus) of the genus Pestivirus in the family Flaviviridae. Though a deadly disease among the pigs, swine fever, however, does not spread to human and it should not be confused with swine influenza (swine flu).

Nonetheless, since there is no vaccine to cure swine fever, the only means is to prevent it from spreading to other pigs by vaccinating them, he said, adding that the vaccination of pigs on a wide scale would be taken up very soon.

Dr Ng Ibotombi, Special Investigator, Disease Investigation Laboratory, who was also present during the press conference, informed that samples taken from three pigs reared by one Moirangthem Nanao of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai and two others reared by Sapam Noren of Heingang were tested in the College of Veterinary, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati and the test results were confirmed positive of swine fever.

The transmission of disease is chiefly by oral and oronasal routes. Direct contact between animals or either through their secretions, excretions, semen and blood causes easy transmission of CSF virus. The virus can also be spread by farm visitors, veterinarians and pig traders from one to another place. Indirect contact through premises, implements, vehicles, clothes, instruments and needles can also transmit the disease. Airborne transmission of this disease is reported over short distances up to one km in study, Dr Ibotombi pointed out.