Thiruvananthapuram: African swine fever was reported from two farms at Mananthavady in Kerala's Wayanad district on Friday.

The disease was confirmed among pigs of two farms in the district after the samples were tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal.

An official from the Animal Husbandry Department said that the samples were sent for testing after pigs at one of the farms died en masse.

"Now the test result has confirmed the infection. Directions have been issued to cull 300 pigs of the second farm," the official said.

The Department said steps are being taken to prevent the disease from being spread.

The state had earlier this month tightened bio-security measures following an alert from the Centre that African swine fever has been reported in Bihar and a few northeastern states.

African swine fever is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic pigs.

Precautionary measures intensified, no need to panic: Minister

The Government has intensified precautionary measures to prevent the spread of African swine flu reported in Wayanad and there is no need to panic, said J Chinchu Rani Kerala Minister for Animal Husbandry.

African swine flu also called African swine fever is a highly contagious, deadly viral disease affecting pigs. However, it does not affect human beings or other animals. As there is no vaccine or any specific treatment protocol for the disease, preventive measures are important. The Union Animal Husbandry department has alerted the State to tighten bio-security measures efficiently after the disease was reported in Bihar and a few Northeastern states, the Minister said.

As per the African swine fever action plan recommended by the Centre, all district animal husbandry officers have been directed to initiate the necessary action. All diagnostic centres in the State have also been told to take the required precautionary measures.

Awareness programmes would be held for the pig farm owners and officials with the state-run farms to educate them on efficient bio-security measures and precautions to be followed during waste management on the farm premises.

A State level control room has been made operational to report any suspected cases of the disease from any part of the State. The control room, working at the Kudappanakkunnu Animal Diseases Control Project office, can be contacted by phone on 0471- 2732151.