A PIG farm in south Seberang Perai has been sealed off and its pigs are being culled and buried on-site after an African swine fever (ASF) case was detected at the farm.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the matter is being undertaken by the state Veterinary Services Department.
“The entire farm has been sealed and the pigs are being culled and buried on-site at the moment. We want to contain it and prevent it from spreading to other pig farms.
“The Penang government has engaged and advised pig farmers in Penang to take precautionary measures when the ASF outbreak hit other states some two months ago.
“Nevertheless, despite all the precautionary measures, it still happened, and we have recorded one ASF case in south Seberang Perai.
“Several measures such as stopping interstate transportation of pigs have been undertaken by the state Veterinary Services Department since the ASF outbreak,” he said.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, the ASF has become a major crisis for the pork industry in recent years and is affecting several regions around the world. It is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, and the mortality rate can reach 100%.
It is, however, not a danger to human health, but it has a devastating impact on the pig population and the farming industry. There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi