KOTA KINABALU – The African swine fever (ASF) virus continues to spread in Sabah as new cases have been detected in various districts, with both domestic and wild pigs found infected.
Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said the virus was detected among domestic pigs in Kota Marudu and Pitas as well as wild bearded pigs in Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Telupid.
“This includes the case of a dead wild bearded pig at a resort in the Kinabatangan district which went viral on social media last week,” he said in a statement today.
Fortunately, he said, commercial pig farms in Tawau, Sandakan, Tenom, Papar, Tuaran and Penampang that supply most of Sabah’s pork products are still free of the virus.
“We must ensure these areas remain ASF-free so that the pork production for local consumption is not affected.
“Even though ASF does not infect humans, it is capable of causing great economic damage as well as disrupting the well-being of our society.
“Therefore, it is crucial for us to control and eliminate this disease,” he said.
Kitingan, who is also the state agriculture and fisheries minister, said the government will declare affected districts as ASF outbreak areas in accordance with the Animal Enactment 2015.
This declaration, which would be made by the respective district and municipal administrators, would allow the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to carry out effective control measures through district-level disaster management committees.
Pigs found with the virus will be culled and the affected areas disinfected, starting from where the virus was first detected.
The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) will also help coordinate efforts to control the spread of the ASF virus from the wild bearded pigs to commercial pigs by suspending hunting licences and prohibiting the selling of ‘sinalau bakas’ as previously stated.
“We will set up the ASF Disease Crisis Management Committee, chaired by the DVS Director.
“This committee will include the SWD, security forces, Local Government and Housing Ministry representatives, state Attorney-General’s Office representatives, and other related agencies.
“They will help to formulate the necessary policies to control and subsequently eradicate the ASF in Sabah as soon as possible,” said Kitingan.
So far, he said, a total of 110 pigs from nine villages in the ASF infection zone have been destroyed and disposed of.
DVS has carried out its awareness campaigns on this new virus in 54 out of 182 villages in Pitas.
As of Saturday, a total of 347 samples were collected from various districts to detect the presence of the ASF virus throughout Sabah. – The Vibes, March 7, 2021
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