African Swine Fever

•  Authorities in Dhakuakhana sub-division of Lakhimpur have stepped up containment measures after African Swine Fever (ASF) resurfaced in the region.
• African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It does not infect humans, but it is fatal to pigs and causes heavy economic losses.
• Spread in Northeast:
  • First detected in India in 2020 in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Likely entered through the Indo-China-Myanmar border region, where the virus is endemic.
  • Since then, it has spread across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland, leading to mass pig deaths.
• Impact:
  • Assam alone has reported over 70,000 pig deaths since 2020.
  • Northeast is home to about 47% of India’s pig population, and pig rearing is a major livelihood and dietary source.
  • The outbreak has caused economic losses of hundreds of crores of rupees to small farmers.
• Response Measures:
  • Mass culling of infected pigs to contain spread.
  • Ban on transportation of pigs and piglets across states during outbreaks.
  • Awareness drives among farmers on biosecurity practices.
  • Long-term solutions include breeding resistant pig varieties and strengthening border veterinary surveillance.
• Key concern:
  • ASF has no vaccine or cure yet. Its persistence threatens food security and rural livelihoods in the Northeast, where pork is both culturally and economically significant.

With reference to African Swine Fever (ASF) recently reported in Northeast India, consider the following statements:

1. ASF is a viral disease that affects both pigs and humans, with a high mortality rate.
2. The first confirmed outbreak in India was reported in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in 2020.
3. The disease has no vaccine or specific treatment as of now.
4. Northeast India is highly vulnerable as it accounts for nearly half of India’s pig population.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b)

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