Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 1: A suspected infectious disease affecting pigs in Car Nicobar has reportedly resulted in continuous mortality among pigs across all 15 villages of the island during August and September 2026, raising serious concerns over livestock losses, food security and the livelihood of the tribal community.
In a letter dated September 30, 2026, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, wrote to the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, seeking urgent investigation, containment and preventive measures to address the reported pig mortality. Mr. Ray also sought appropriate compensation or ex-gratia assistance for affected families.
According to the letter, the suspected disease has reportedly been affecting pigs since around August 10, 2026, with continuous mortality among animals of different age groups across all 15 villages of Car Nicobar. Photographs of affected animals were enclosed with the letter as preliminary evidence. The matter had reportedly already been brought to the notice of the Veterinary Department at Car Nicobar and the District Administration by respective Village Tribal Captains, including the Chief Captain of the Car Nicobar Tribal Council. However, the reported mortality was stated to be continuing, causing concern among the tribal population.
Mr. Ray emphasized that the actual cause of the mortality should be established through clinical examination, laboratory diagnosis, pathological examination and appropriate sample testing by qualified veterinary specialists and disease-control experts. He cautioned that the disease should not be presumed to be caused by any particular infection without proper laboratory confirmation.
The letter also raised concern over the reported use of antibiotics as the main treatment instead of deploying a specialised veterinary disease-investigation team and initiating a systematic disease-control protocol. It noted that antibiotics are not effective against viral diseases and that their indiscriminate use could complicate disease management.
Pigs are described in the letter as an important traditional food source and livelihood asset for the tribal community of Car Nicobar. It was reported that each family maintains approximately 25 to 30 pigs across the 15 villages, while the cost of an individual pig could range from around Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 depending on its weight. The continuing mortality was therefore stated to be causing significant economic losses and hardship to affected families.
The letter further pointed out that a comprehensive enumeration or survey of affected animals and mortality had reportedly not yet been completed, resulting in a lack of reliable data on the number of animals affected and lost.
Mr. Ray requested the deployment of a specialised team comprising senior veterinary officers, epidemiologists, animal disease specialists and laboratory experts to Car Nicobar. He also called for a village-wise epidemiological and mortality survey to determine the number of affected animals and assess the pattern and extent of mortality.
He sought collection of appropriate clinical samples, post-mortem specimens and other relevant samples for testing at an authorised veterinary diagnostic laboratory to identify the causative agent. He also requested that necessary biosecurity, quarantine, movement-control, carcass-disposal and disinfection measures be implemented as advised by competent veterinary authorities.
The MP further called for continuous surveillance to determine whether the disease was spreading to other villages or other livestock species such as cattle and goats. He sought appropriate compensation or ex-gratia assistance to affected tribal families based on verified mortality and assessment of losses under applicable rules and schemes.
Mr. Ray also requested that the circumstances behind any reported delay in disease investigation and control measures be examined and responsibility fixed if any administrative or technical lapse was established.
Describing the matter as urgent, Mr. Ray stated that any delay in identifying the causative disease and implementing appropriate containment measures could result in further animal mortality and greater economic hardship for the tribal population. He requested personal monitoring of the matter and immediate directions for scientific investigation, disease containment and relief to affected families.
