Pigs from Indore May Have Carried JE Virus
NEW DELHI, INDIA - Pigs brought to New Delhi from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, could be behind the spread of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in the city.
The Times of India reports that this is what the latest report on the screening of blood samples collected from the swine and subsequent investigations carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has revealed.
According to the civic body, at least three pigs transported to the city from Indore by local traders for slaughtering have tested positive for the JE virus.
Dr V K Monga, Chairman of the MCD health committee confirmed this fact adding that that MCD will issue a health alert to the concerned authorities in Indore and ask them re-ascertain the facts.
"The lab reports from National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, received by us on Wednesday, stated that out of 83 blood samples collected from pigs across the city three pigs from Sadar Paharganj zone have tested positive for JE virus. The traders claim that the pigs were brought for slaughtering from Indore," said Dr Monga.
He added that in December last year also, when 17 out of 83 blood samples collected from pigs across the city were found positive for JE, the traders had claimed that the swine were mostly brought from Indore and Gurgaon. Both the mega-cities have not reported any JE cases so far but health officials say that the infection may be present in pigs at a sub-clinical level.
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5 January 2012
3 minute read
