Over 250 Pigs Die in Gorkha Due to African Swine Fever

Gorkha. More than 250 pigs have died in Gorkha due to African Swine Fever. More than 250 pigs have died so far from the African Swine Fever infection that has been spreading for two months, according to the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Services Expert Center in the district. According to the center's chief, Ananta Koirala, 80 pigs from the farm of farmer Rajkumar Shrestha in the Manavseva Ashram toll of Gorkha Municipality-6, and 10 pigs from the farm of Juna Regmi from the same area have died. Similarly, he informed that 60 pigs from Dhanakumar Gurung's farm in Mandredhunga died within two weeks. The remaining pigs from other farmers' farms have also died due to infection.

According to the data so far, the African Swine Fever infection has spread to pigs in farms in Gorkha Municipality-6, 7, and 8, and Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality-7, Koirala informed. According to him, the infection of this disease has been identified in the district for only about two months.

Office Chief Koirala said, "So far, there is no treatment for this disease, nor is there any vaccine available. Therefore, it is almost certain that pigs will die after being infected. This disease can also be transmitted through the contact of people who have visited infected areas, through feed and medicine." According to him, since there is no treatment, taking necessary precautions is the only way to prevent it.

"Information has been received that pigs are dying rapidly due to African Swine Fever. Some farms are registered, while some are unregistered, so all details may not have been obtained," Koirala said. He advised staying away from infected pens and their contact to prevent the disease.

According to farmer Dhanakumar Gurung, symptoms of infection include fever in pigs, loss of appetite, appearance of spots or marks on the body, and death within about a week.