After Thrissur, Kerala’s Kottayam reports African swine fever outbreak

Kottayam/Kerala: An outbreak of African Swine Fever, a highly contagious and deadly swine disease, has been reported at a farm in Kumarakom village panchayat in Kottayam district, PTI reported, citing a district authorities' account on Saturday.

The area within a one-kilometre radius of the affected farm has been declared a disease-affected zone, while the 10-km radius around it has been declared a disease surveillance area by the district collector, they said.

The District Collector has directed strict precautionary measures in all parts of the district in response to the outbreak, an official statement said.

Distribution of pork and operations of shops selling it in affected areas have to be suspended until further notice, it said.

The transport of pork, pigs, and feed to and from the infected area has been temporarily banned.

Steps will be taken to cull all pigs in the affected farm and those located within a one-kilometre radius of it as per the guidelines of the central government, officials said.

A rapid response team has been ordered to be formed to coordinate related matters, they added.

Last month, African swine fever was detected in pigs in the sixth ward of Mulankunnathukavu panchayat of Thrissur, PTI had reported then. Officials had declared a one-kilometre zone around the affected farm as infected, and a 10-kilometre belt around it as a surveillance zone. Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandyan had ordered a ban on the sale and transport of pork from the infected areas, and told shops handling pork to suspend operations. The measures follow the central government's action plan for controlling the disease.

Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Isaac Sam had clarified that the disease affects only pigs and does not spread to other animals or humans.