Jhapa, June 8: African swine flu and lumpy skin disease have been detected in domesticated animals of Mechinagar Municipality. Lumpy skin has been confirmed in Wards No. 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 14 of Mechinagar and African swine flu in pig farms of Ward No. 6, shared Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality, Agni Prasad Adhikari.
Technical staffers from the Animal Services Unit of the municipality have been mobilized for necessary testing, treatment and vigilance for the disease control and further prevention. We have also requested necessary support from the Koshi Province and federal government agencies, said Adhikari.
Chhatra Rai, technician at the Animal Services Unit said lumpy skin was detected in cows and calves and the infected animals have been isolated following treatment. Meanwhile, to prevent further spread the veterinary team has administered vaccines to more than 150 cattle raised by farmers within 500 meters of the shed where the infection was found. The animals infected with the disease have high fever, shivering, loss of appetite and low milk production.
Similarly, 80 pigs have died due to African swine flu at Babita Pig Farm in Mechinagar Ward No. 6. The tests conducted at the Animal and Poultry Disease Research Laboratory confirmed African swine flu in the dead pigs, said Bikram Gurung, head of the Animal Services Unit. After receiving news of sudden death of pigs on the farm a sample was sent to the laboratory for testing, which confirmed African swine flu.
Farm proprietor Babita Gahatraj said that 80 pigs died all of a sudden in the month of Jestha. Meanwhile, a technical team led by the municipality’s animal services branch is carrying out medical treatment and awareness activities to prevent the spread of the disease in the affected pig farm and surrounding areas. (RSS)
Comments