Deaths of a number of pigs in Bhutan from African Swine Fever (ASF), a viral infection, has made the administration of Alipurduar, which shares borders with Bhutan, start giving immunity boosters and medicines to pigs in areas close to the Indo-Bhutan border.

Though humans do not get infected by the virus, pigs are susceptible to the ASF that can rapidly spread among the swine population even if one animal is infected.

Surendra Kumar Meena, the district magistrate of Alipurduar, said on Saturday that Bhutanese authorities had reported about ASF cases in their country very recently.

“It put us on alert. We have instructed medicines and immunity boosters be given to all pigs in and around Jaigaon town, on the opposite of Bhutan’s Phuentsholing. On Saturday, three camps were held in Jaigaon-II panchayat area and the process will continue,” Meena said.

On Saturday, the animal husbandry department sanitised piggery farms. The administration, sources said, has also imposed curbs on movement of pigs.

Also, officials of the state forest department have been asked to keep tabs on the wild boar population in Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara National Park of the district.

“Even if one boar gets infected, all boars will be at risk. That is why forest guards on patrol have been asked to keep watch,” said a forester.