Sri Vijaya Puram, October 22: Authorities have declared Sri Vijaya Puram an epicentre of African Swine Fever (ASF) following laboratory confirmation of the disease, triggering pig culling operations, compensation procedures and a ban on the movement of pigs and related products across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The declaration follows confirmation by ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious disease affecting pigs. It does not infect humans or pose a risk to human health, but it spreads rapidly among pigs and currently has no vaccine or cure.
The Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC), Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Revenue Administration and Andaman and Nicobar Police have formed a coordinated response through a Special Task Force.
Under the containment procedure, municipal teams will identify pig owners and stray pigs within a one-kilometre radius of the infected zone.
A Compensation Verification Team headed by the Tehsildar will document the number and weight of pigs belonging to each owner, along with quantities of feed requiring destruction, before culling operations begin.
Veterinary personnel will carry out humane culling under the supervision of the Senior Veterinary Officer in accordance with prescribed protocols.
Authorities will transport carcasses in designated vehicles for disposal in common deep burial pits away from residential areas. Field teams will subsequently disinfect affected premises, vehicles and equipment.
Pig owners will receive compensation according to Government of India norms, calculated on the weight of each animal. Authorities will transfer payments directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through RTGS or NEFT.
The Administration has prohibited transportation of live pigs, pig feed, pork and pork products throughout the Union Territory until further orders. Restrictions also apply to pig markets and fairs.
Authorities have prohibited dumping animal carcasses into the sea or other water bodies.
Pig owners have been instructed to confine their animals, immediately report illness or deaths among pigs and cooperate with containment teams.
