Guwahati: The Assam government has stopped the inter-district movement of live pigs after a sharp rise in African Swine Fever cases across the state. The order, issued by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, also restricts the sale of pork in seven districts where infections are concentrated: Dhemaji, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Darrang, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh.

Officials said the step was necessary as ASF, which has a near–100 percent mortality rate in pigs, continues to hit the state’s piggery sector hard. Since January, 297 ASF epicentres have been detected in Assam, with 84 new cases reported in October alone.

The department invoked the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, to enforce the restrictions. The ban takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further orders, with the aim of containing the spread of the disease.

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