MIRI – The Sarawak authorities have issued a directive for mass culling in pig farms in Sibu, seeing that the central Sarawak town has been hit by an outbreak of the African swine fever.
Speaking to the reporters after a meeting with the Veterinary Department, Sarawak Agriculture Modernisation and Regional Development Minister Datuk Stephen Rundi Utom said that three farms in Sibu have been affected.
“It is confirmed that there is an outbreak of the African swine fever in three pig farms in Sibu.
“An order is out to carry out mass culling and depopulation of the pigs and animals in the farms.
“This is to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of Sarawak,” said Rundi.
He explained that at the moment, there is no vaccine to protect the livestock from swine flu.
Therefore, each infected farm must be sealed off and all infected animals culled.
“The disease can cause huge economic losses if not stopped from spreading,” he said.
Rundi said the Veterinary Department has been told to step up checks in all pig farms state-wide.
The disease was believed to hit the region several days ago when the animals began suddenly dying in farms owned by private pork sellers. – The Vibes, January 11, 2022
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