THE Penang State Veterinary Services Department (JPV) this morning closed a pig farm in Valdor Village due to a new positive case of African Swine Fever (ASF) there.
State Veterinary director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said the new case was the second detected so far in the state while the department is awaiting the test result of a suspected third farm.
“When we (JPV) got the positive result (ASF) this morning, we proceeded to close the operation of the farm.
“So far, two positive ASF cases have been found; so the action from the JPV is the same, which is to close the farm, cull the pigs and ensure that the livestock transport trucks do not cross the district,” she explained after attending an emergency meeting at the south Seberang Perai District and Land Office today.
Also present were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and south Seberang Perai district officer Marlia Mohd Belia.
Dr Saira Banu said the culling of pigs at the first pig farm is expected to end tomorrow (Jan 8) and this would be followed by the culling of pigs at the second pig farm on Monday. It is learned that the first farm has some 1,500 pigs while the second farm has 1,700 pigs.
In addition, Dr Saira Banu said so far the state JPV has managed to identify positive cases of ASF from which farm, but the original cause of the spread of the epidemic to this district is still being traced.
Not wanting to point fingers at any party, Dr Saira Banu said at the state JPV level since 2021, they have briefed all pig farmers in the state on the risk of the ASF outbreak.
“We told them (the pig farmers) to ensure that all transport vehicles entering and exiting are washed.
“In addition, we (the state JPV) are enforcing the Pig Farming Enactment 2016 so that pig farmers change their farm patterns from open farms to closed livestock farms,” she said.
It is understood that the first positive case of ASF was identified in a pig farm operating without a licence near Mukim 12, while the second case was in a farm operating with a conditional licence and converting to a closed livestock farm.
Based on state JPV census data, there are 124 pig farms in Penang.
Of that number, there are 42 farms in Valdor, Lima Kongsi (4), Jawi (6), Simpang Ampat (4), Sungai Bakap – Wellesley (6) and Nibong Tebal (1).
“According to the latest census data, the number of pigs in the state of Penang is 267,348,” she said.
After the meeting, Chow visited pig farms in Valdor together with Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik.
Chow said the state government is taking the outbreak of the disease seriously and would convene a state-level disaster committee meeting tomorrow.
“The State Secretary has been directed to mobilise the necessary operation as it involves more machinery and other agencies to help out since the state Veterinary Department lacks manpower.
“A meeting will be held tomorrow to see to all the preparations.
“We suggest MPKK Valdor to be the field station because of its proximity to the affected pig farm. We will use the Dewan MPKK Perkampungan Valdor.
“We will also interact with the farmers because, without their involvement and cooperation, this challenge will become even more difficult to overcome.
“I stress that cooperation is very important. We appeal to the pig farmers to follow the instructions given by the department which has the expertise and the know-how to control the situation.
“In the affected farms here, the authorities have banned the movement of pigs to other districts.
“But we want to assure the meat buyers that those pigs that have been slaughtered and released by the slaughterhouse are safe to consume. This is because they have gone through a health check by the meat inspector. We don’t want the public to panic,” Chow said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi