MIRI – Wild boars infected by the African swine flu are believed to have entered Sarawak from across the Kalimantan border into the remote districts of Kapit and Limbang.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas has issued a warning to rural folks in Sarawak to stop hunting or capturing these wild boars.
“The devastating effect of the African swine flu is being seen now in many areas in the state, including in the longhouses.
“Rural folks must stop hunting wild boars (in general), as the boars have been found to have been infected by other wild boars crossing into the state from across the border.
“Infected pigs from across the border could have also spread the swine flu to locally bred pigs here.
“The infections are devastating to the local pig population,” he said in a statement today.
Since last week, the swine flu has also spread rapidly to Sibu, affecting pig farms in the district.
Pigs in at least 14 longhouses in the outskirts of Sibu district in central Sarawak have been found infected with the virus on February 19.
Sibu rural district councillor Teo Boon Siew had said that longhouse residents had notified the council of the sudden deaths of pigs in their barns.
“About 200 pigs in at least 14 longhouses have been found dead so far.
“The residents did not immediately report these cases to the council, but had delayed lodging official reports.
“The council had alerted the Veterinary Department already after learning about these cases.
“Swift measures are needed to contain the spread of this swine flu,” he had told reporters after inspecting the infected farms.
Mass culling of pigs in affected farms underway: state agriculture minister
Last week, Sarawak’s Agriculture Modernisation and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Stephen Rundi Utom issued a directive for mass culling of these animals in affected pig farms in Sibu.
“The mass culling and depopulation of the pigs and animals in the farms are being done.
“This is to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of Sarawak,” he said in a statement.
“The culled animals and all the animal feed will be buried and disposed of,” he said.
Rundi said culling is the only way to stop the spread of the swine flu.
“There is no vaccine against the swine flu.
“Every infected farm must be sealed off, and all the 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 statewide. – The Vibes, February 21, 2022
