A state of caution has been declared in Golaghat district after African Swine Fever (ASF) was confirmed at a pig farm in Khanikor village under Sarupathar subdivision. The confirmation came through laboratory tests, prompting the district administration to move swiftly and issue an order to prevent the spread of the disease.
The order, issued by the District Magistrate under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, immediately restricts all types of commercial activities related to pigs within a 10-kilometre radius of Khanikor village. This includes the sale, purchase, transport, and movement of pigs, pork meat, pig feed, and any materials linked to pig farming. Officials say that these measures are necessary to stop the disease from spreading further into nearby villages and commercial areas.
According to the district administration, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice. Authorities have made it clear that the situation will be closely monitored and any violation of the order may invite legal action. The administration has also appealed to the residents of the affected region to strictly follow the rules and support the efforts taken to protect both public health and livestock health. 
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs and wild boars. It does not infect humans, but it spreads very fast among pig populations and almost always proves fatal to infected animals. Because there is no vaccine or special treatment available for ASF at present, the only way to control the outbreak is to restrict movement and cull infected pigs, if required. The disease has caused large losses to pig farmers in several parts of the Northeast in recent years, making this a matter of serious concern for the farming community in Golaghat as well.
