Sri Vijaya Puram | September 30, 2026
Nicobar Times has obtained a number of inputs from Car Nicobar concerning a excessive variety of pig deaths being reported on the island in latest weeks.
Pigs maintain important significance among the many Nicobarese group and are intently related to its tradition and traditions.
To verify the scenario and perceive the doable causes behind the elevated mortality, Nicobar Times spoke to Dr. Baljit Kaur, Senior Veterinary Officer (SVO), Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Car Nicobar.
Dr. Kaur confirmed that a rise in pig mortality had been reported. She stated sporadic circumstances of pig deaths had been reported earlier and, upon enquiry, native residents had knowledgeable the division that some pig mortality is mostly reported throughout this season. However, the variety of stories elevated abruptly from September 10, following which veterinary camps have been carried out in numerous villages in coordination with village heads and residents.
She additional knowledgeable that a number of groups have been deployed by the division and supportive remedy was offered to animals wherever required.
Post-mortem examinations have been carried out on deceased animals, and samples have been collected and despatched to Sri Vijaya Puram earlier than being forwarded to Kolkata for testing. Dr. Kaur additionally knowledgeable that ICAR-CIARI had individually despatched samples for testing to Bengaluru. According to info conveyed telephonically to her by a senior official of ICAR-CIARI, Classical Swine Fever and African Swine Fever had been dominated out within the testing carried out by ICAR-CIARI.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services is awaiting the outcomes of the samples despatched to Kolkata.
Dr. Kaur additionally recalled {that a} swine fever outbreak had been reported in 2000, throughout which different islands within the Nicobar group have been additionally affected. In the current scenario, nevertheless, the elevated mortality has thus far been reported from Car Nicobar, whereas no related enhance in mortality has been reported from the opposite Nicobar Islands.
She stated figures regarding pig mortality are being usually communicated to the authorities in Sri Vijaya Puram and subsequently to the involved authority of the Government of India.
Dr. Kaur additional said that the place correct biosecurity measures had been applied, no deaths have been reported. She added that the departmental farm in Car Nicobar has additionally remained unaffected, with no pig deaths reported there.
Nicobar Times additionally spoke to an official of ICAR-CIARI, who stated that Classical Swine Fever sero-screening is a steady course of and vaccination is carried out usually. The official stated the illness is managed via vaccination.
The precise purpose behind the latest enhance in pig mortality in Car Nicobar, nevertheless, stays unclear. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services is awaiting the outcomes of the samples despatched to Kolkata, which can present additional readability on the reason for the deaths.
