Berhampur: The death of pigs due to unknown disease for the last few days has sparked panic among the people of the city.
Dr Kiran Kumar Bishoi, Assistant Surgeon in the office of the Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO), Ganjam said pigs have been found suddenly falling ill and not taking food for two days. As they become weak for lack of food, they are unable to walk. After some time, spots are found on their body and they die within hours.
After the pigs are found dead, the people have been burying the carcasses in the crematoriums for the last 20 days, sources said.
Meanwhile, Dr Bishoi and Dr Digvijay Mahanty, Research Officer, Clinical Investigation Laboratory, Berhampur visited Sri Ram Nagar Crematorium and collected blood samples from the pig carcasses. The samples will be sent for test in the Berhampur laboratory and State Laboratory in Bhubaneswar.
“The exact cause of the deaths of these pigs is yet to be ascertained. We can throw light on it after the test report comes,” said Dr Bishoi. He advised the people not to consume pork of the sick animals till the cause of the death is ascertained.