Nov 3 : Unknown disease stalking pigs reported Has the Swine Flu/ASF landed or not ?
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November 3, 2025 : Imphal based print and electronic media went to town with the news that an unknown, unidentified disease was stalking and killing pigs, particularly at Phibou, Kakching, Ukhongsang and Moirang Khunou. The agenda of the Manipur Progressive Pig Farmers’ Association was clear- it was a shout out to the Government to do the needful and investigate the cause of the deaths. It is also clear that such a shout out would not have been issued if the deaths involved only three or four pigs. This should have been more than enough to jolt the Veterinary Department but so far there is nothing to suggest that the Government has taken note of the outbreak of the disease. This was back on November 3. Just two days after the outbreak of the disease stalking the swines was reported, the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department organised a one day State level awareness programme on Classical Swine Fever and African Swine Flu at the office of the said department on November 5, but not a word was spoken of the disease which had reportedly claimed a number of pigs. A workshop held to sensitise the people, particularly those who rear pigs, but skipping to mention even a word on the outbreak of a disease and this is certainly not comforting for the people. The silence of the Government however does not mean that the disease will go away and it is along this line that the Central Agriculture University virtually interacted with pig farmers from across the State on November 10. The virtual interaction primarily revolved around Classical Swine Fever and African Swine Flu, but then again not a word was said about the large number of pigs which have reportedly died following the infection by the unknown disease. Raj Bhavan and the people who matter in the PR administration should take note of the manner in which the deaths of many pigs has been dealt with. Keeping the people in the dark is certainly not the way to go about dealing with a disease as contagious as Classical Swine Flu or African Swine Fever. What is the status ? The answer should lie with the Veterinary Department, but lest it is forgotten maybe this is the right time to remind the suited, booted officials of the Veterinary Department that this is November and this is the time of the year when the demand for pork will zoom up. And Manipur loves pork, no argument over it. Fortunately Swine Flu or African Swine Fever do not infect humans, but it could spread and there certainly must be ways to dispose the carcasses of the dead pigs. This is the time for the said department to pull up its socks and start telling all pig farmers what to do and what not to do to contain the spread of the disease, if it has landed.
But first things first. The Veterinary Department will first need to verify the unknown disease that has already claimed a number of pigs. It however is not very clear whether samples of the dead pigs were collected or not and if not, questions ought to be raised on why samples have not been collected. It is nearly ten days since the deaths of the pigs was announced to the media and the silence has only gone to add more substance to the question, whether samples were collected or not. Is this the reason why no official statement on the status of the samples sent has been spelt out even today ? The people are not asking for any classified or sensitive information but just want to know whether the disease that has killed many pigs at Phibou, Kakching, Ukhongsang and Moirang Khunou was Classical Swine Flu or African Swine Fever. Why is it taking so long for the Government to spell out the details ? Only the PR administration can answer these questions, but it should be clear that it cannot take things lightly. If there is an outbreak of Swine Flu or African Swine Fever, spell it out to the public. If not then let it be said that Manipur is still free from the disease. Equally important is the question of whether the State Government has taken up any action to monitor the import of pigs from neighbouring States like Nagaland. Shouldn’t an eye be also kept on the pigs brought in from outside ?
But first things first. The Veterinary Department will first need to verify the unknown disease that has already claimed a number of pigs. It however is not very clear whether samples of the dead pigs were collected or not and if not, questions ought to be raised on why samples have not been collected. It is nearly ten days since the deaths of the pigs was announced to the media and the silence has only gone to add more substance to the question, whether samples were collected or not. Is this the reason why no official statement on the status of the samples sent has been spelt out even today ? The people are not asking for any classified or sensitive information but just want to know whether the disease that has killed many pigs at Phibou, Kakching, Ukhongsang and Moirang Khunou was Classical Swine Flu or African Swine Fever. Why is it taking so long for the Government to spell out the details ? Only the PR administration can answer these questions, but it should be clear that it cannot take things lightly. If there is an outbreak of Swine Flu or African Swine Fever, spell it out to the public. If not then let it be said that Manipur is still free from the disease. Equally important is the question of whether the State Government has taken up any action to monitor the import of pigs from neighbouring States like Nagaland. Shouldn’t an eye be also kept on the pigs brought in from outside ?