African swine fever detected in swine samples of Patiala, Punjab declared 'controlled area

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Friday, informed that after ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal has confirmed African swine fever in swine samples of district Patiala, the whole state of Punjab is declared as "Controlled Area" with the object of preventing, controlling, eradicating scheduled disease-African Swine Fever (ASF), exercising the powers u/s 6 of Chapter III of "The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009."

He said that a notification has been issued is this regard and it has come into force with immediate effect.

The Cabinet Minister said that a village Bilaspur and Sanauri Adda in District Patiala are hereby notified as "Epicenter" of the disease, adhering to the u/s 20 of Chapter III of the same Act."

Mr. Bhullar further said that in compliance to Chapters 7 & 8 of "National Action Plan for Control, Containment and Eradication of African Swine Fever (June 2020)" of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India; these areas are hereby declared "Infected Zone" (0-1 Km area around epicenter of disease) and "Surveillance Zone" (1-10 Km area around epicenter of disease). No live/dead Pig (including feral or wild pigs), unprocessed Pig Meat, Feed or any material/goods from the piggery farm/backyard piggery shall be taken out of or brought into the Infected Zone and no person shall bring or attempt to bring into market any pig or pig products which is known to be infected with the scheduled disease, said the Minister quoting notification, while adding that inter-state movement of any pig or its belongings should be strictly ban.