In response to sporadic cases of African Swine Flu (ASF) in various parts of the country, Tripura has prohibited the import of pigs and piglets from outside the state.
Sudangshu Das, the Animal Resource Development (ARD) Minister of Tripura, stated that individuals who disobey the government’s decision will be penalised and that an act prohibiting the import of pigs will be passed so that the department can take stringent action against anyone illegally bringing pigs into Tripura.
Doctors from the ARD department are monitoring the situation and regularly submitting samples to disease investigation laboratories to detect ASF so that immediate action can be taken if necessary.
The ASF outbreak has hit several northeastern, southern, and northern states, resulting in the frequent importation of pigs and piglets from these affected regions. The ASF caused massive damage in Mizoram in 2021 and 2022, with over 33,400 pigs dying and 10,000 families being affected, resulting in a financial loss of Rs 61 crore. According to specialists, ASF outbreaks may have been caused by the importation of pigs or pork from neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern states. In the region, pork is a common and popular meat consumed by both tribals and non-tribals, with an annual pork business worth around Rs 8,000-10,000 crore, with Assam being the largest supplier.
