ASF hits 30 districts, epicentres double compared to last yr

Guwahati: African swine fever (ASF) severely impacted Assam, leading to the death and subsequent culling of thousands of pigs throughout the state. The number of epicentres of this highly infectious viral disease more than doubled in Assam this year compared to the figures from last year.ASF has affected 30 out of 35 districts in the state so far this year. The death toll of pigs due to the disease is around 2,200, with an additional 7,000 culled by the department to prevent further spread. According to official sources in the state animal husbandry and veterinary department, since 2020, the number of disease epicentres reached 356 in Assam by this year. Doctors attribute the spread primarily to the sale of infected pigs.“In 2025 alone, 205 epicentres were detected. Till last year, the number of epicentres was 151,” an official from the department told TOI on Thursday, noting that only 39 epicentres were identified in 2020, 14 in 2021, 67 in 2022, 24 in 2023, and just seven last year.“The spread is everywhere. Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts in upper Assam are worst affected like in 2020. Initially, this year, we detected the spread in Barpeta and Nalbari in lower Assam, but now the spread is more serious in upper Assam,” he added.

The state govt requested funds from the Government of India to compensate the ASF-affected farmers. Together, the Assam govt and the central govt compensated farmers with Rs 20 lakh this year, but the state govt is now awaiting Rs 1.49 crore from the Centre.An analysis by doctors revealed that the spread is mainly due to the sale of infected piglets and adult pigs without testing immediately after the disease is declared in nearby areas. “Both big and small farms are badly affected,” the official said.