Guwahati(Assam), April 25 : Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday asked the animal husbandry and veterinary department to conduct an inquiry into swine flu cases in the state and take remedial measures at the earliest.
During a meeting with top officials and scientists of the department, Sonowal directed it to send samples of the affected pigs to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for detection of swine flu.
The flu has recently hit some parts of the state this year.
“There has been 1,964 deaths of pigs in Assam. We have sent samples to Bhopal for necessary tests. As a precautionary measure, we have banned sale of pigs and pork in the State with immediate effect,” Assam Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora said in Guwahati.
We have also launched vaccination of pigs. We are monitoring the situation, he said.
The Minister added that sale and distribution of pork meat has been banned in the entire state .