DOOMDOOMA, April 23 - Several cases of the death of pigs have been reported from several parts of Tinsukia district like Dangari, Balioni Aroimuria, Laika etc., during the past one week, which has spread fear among the pig farmers about suspected outbreak of swine fever. Though the Veterinary department officials did not rule out the death of pigs due to swine fever, they also cited other reasons like weather change, bacterial infection and non-vaccination etc.
When contacted, Dr Debananda Gogoi, the District Veterinary Officer of Tinsukia said, �pig farmers had hardly reported about the death of pigs, and many a times it became difficult to ascertain the cause of the death as people in rural and tea garden areas used to eat the carcasses.�
�Anyway, we have started extensive vaccination in the areas from where the death of pigs has been reported,� Dr Gogoi added.
�There are more than 85,000 pigs in the entire district. But, we have received only 1500 samples of vaccine. So, we have now started the vaccination in the infected areas only,� Dr Gogoi further said.
In a bid to dispel fear and misconception that the pigs infected with swine fever might cause swine flu in humans, Dr Gogoi said that the infecting viruses for both the diseases were different and the Veterinary department was also simultaneously carrying out mass awareness programme to allay peoples� fears and advising the farmers to follow vaccination rules.
