At least 30 pigs have died in Meghalaya since May 1 due to classical swine fever, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a call-attention-motion moved by opposition Congress legislator, Process T Sawkmie, the deputy chief minister informed, “The samples of the dead pigs were sent to Indian Council Agriculture Research, Umiam and the reports attributed the mortalities to classical swine fever.”
Tynsong, who also handles Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department said, that the classical swine fever was not a deadly disease and the mortality rate was only 1.4 per cent and vaccine for the illness was available.
“They do not spread to human beings and therefore there is no threat to humans,” he said, adding that the disease spreads among pigs and its symptoms are high fever, loss of appetite and discoloration of eyes, thighs and other parts of the body.
The district-wise break-up of the mortality of pigs are – East Khasi Hills 9, Ri-Bhoi 12, West Khasi Hills 2, Mairang Sub Division 4, West Jaintia Hills 1, East Garo Hills 1 and East Jaintia Hills 1.
Moving the call-attention-motion, Sawkmie informed that many pigs died under his Mawlai assembly constituency, even as he urged the government to compensate those piggery owners who animals died since after the lockdown they have lost their livelihood and now the pigs they reared have died.
“It could be either in cash or piglets,” the Congress legislator demanded.
