Following the outbreak of the African Swine Fever and its confirmation by the Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Department vide Notification No. Misc-103/1/2021-Vety-VETY & A.H dated October 16 in the districts of Imphal East, Kakching and Bishnupur, the respective district magistrates have issued restriction orders.
As for Imphal East district, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmad Shah stated that, as per the notification, the epicentre of the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Imphal East District is declared at the pig farm of L Nandalal Singh of Kangba Chingjin, Lamlai, Sawombung Block, Imphal East, Manipur.
Therefore, the following area of Imphal East District is required to be declared as a controlled area for ASF with immediate effect to effectively prevent, control and eradicate the scheduled disease, the notice stated.
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Hence, as per the provisions of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009, Pig farm of L Nandalal Singh at Kangba Chingji has been declared as the Epicentre; Areas within 1 km radius from the pig farm of L Nandalal Singh at Kangba Chingjin as Infected Zone and Areas within 10 km radius from the pig farm of L Nandalal Singh at Kangta Chingjin as Surveillance Zone. All these three zones are categorized under ‘Controlled Zone’, as per the notification.
Areas outside the Surveillance Zone have been categorized as ‘Free Zone’.
As per the notification by the Addl DC of Imphal East, in the Controlled areas for African swine fever, movement of pigs (dead or alive) are strictly prohibited; movement and sale of pork and feed within the Infected zone and materials that could have contacted the infected or suspected to be infected animals are prohibited; culling of all pigs of the infected zone shall be done by the officials of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department, Manipur by following proper protocols.
All equipment/tools as well as vehicles used in the farms that are having pigs, either infected or suspected to be infected, shall be restricted from movement without following proper protocols and any person(s) who contravenes the provisions of the Act or obstructs the competent officer in performing duties under the Act shall be held guilty of an offence and punishable under the Act, the notification stated.
As for Bishnupur district, the Secretariat of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Manipur confirmed the outbreak of ASF in Pigs at the farm of Ph Budhachandra Singh of Moirang Kokilbon Leikai, Kha Thinungei Block, Bishnupur District.
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In view of the impending threat of the disease, it has become expedient to issue containment measures to prevent spread of the disease in the area, Lourembam Bikram, District Magistrate/ DC, Bishnupur District stated.
Therefore, under section 6 of the “Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009”, the DC notified with immediate effect as “Controlled Areas” for African Swine Fever (ASF) at the farm of Ph Budhachandra Singh of Moirang Kokilbon Leikai, Kha Thinungei Block, Bishnupur district.
And, as for Kakching district, the ASF was confirmed in pigs in the Farm of M Jugesshwor Singh of Kakching Moirangthem Leikai.
Hence, Somorjit Salam, Deputy Commissioner, in exercise of the powers conferred under section 6 of “The prevention and control of infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009” notified with immediate effect as Control Area for African Swine Fever at the Farm of M. Jugeshwor Singh of Kakching Moirangthem Leikni, Kakching District.
Therefore, under Section 7 of “The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009”, the both the DCs declared the following containment measures, i.e., no Pig shall be moved from the place where it is kept within the controlled area and ban on sale of pig, pork, feed and related items, in the geographical area mentioned above with immediate effect.
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Further, the areas falling within 1 (one) km radius from the Epicentre of the disease is declared as “Infected Zone” and areas falling within 9 (nine) km radius from the Infected zone is hereby declared as “Surveillance Zone” for taking up control and containment procedures and areas falling outside the “Surveillance Zone” as “Free Zone”.
Any persons/Institution/Organisation found violating any of these containment measures shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under the said Act, the DC stated.
