African Swine Fever Confirmed in Malappuram; Pork Sales Banned, Six Panchayats Under Surveillance

Malappuram: African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed in a wild boar found partially decomposed in the Marutha area, under the Nilambur Vayikkadavu Forest Range. Following this confirmation, District Collector V.R. Vinod has declared six panchayats within a 10-kilometer radius of the epicenter as a surveillance zone. Strict monitoring has been imposed in the panchayats of Vayikkadavu, Edakkara, Pothukallu, Chungathara, Karulai, and Muthedam.

As there are no pig farms within a one-kilometer radius of the epicenter, the need for culling pigs has currently been avoided. However, to prevent the spread of the disease, certain restrictions have been imposed in the affected area. These include limitations on the distribution of pork and the operation of shops selling pork in the surveillance zone. Furthermore, the transport of pigs to and from other parts of the district is prohibited.

It is important to note that African Swine Fever is a disease found only in pigs and does not spread to other animals or humans. However, as there is currently no vaccine or preventive medicine available for ASF, there is a risk of mass mortality among pigs. Therefore, these precautionary measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of the disease to other parts of Malappuram district.

The district administration has instructed farmers in other parts of Malappuram district to immediately inform the concerned veterinary officer if they observe symptoms similar to African Swine Fever virus infection.