ASF outbreak: 25,000 pigs to be culled as Penang declares state disaster

NIBONG TEBAL – Penang has declared the African Swine Fever (ASF) in the state a disaster situation after cases were detected at five more pig farms.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said as of today, a total of seven commercial pig farms, five each in Seberang Prai Selatan and two in Seberang Prai Tengah, had been infected with ASF and that the 25,000 pigs in all the farms will be culled in stages.

“The ASF outbreak was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction tests conducted between January 4 and 12 on pig samples from the farms,” he told a press conference after holding a meeting with the Penang Veterinary Services Department and pig farmers at Perkampungan Valdor here today.

To control and prevent the spread of ASF, Chow said the Penang Veterinary Services Department had implemented a stamping-out policy to cull pigs in farms that have ASF cases, with the carcasses disposed of by on-site burial or at special areas provided by the state government.

“The culling is done with carbon dioxide gas and according to the Animal Welfare Code of Practice and Animal Disposal Management guidelines before the pigs are buried,” he said.

To date, Chow said 929 pigs from the farm first affected by ASF had been culled and the exercise may take weeks to complete.

“The state government will provide an area of land near roads or highways in the state to bury the carcasses due to land constraints in pig farms and I urge the public not to panic with the situation – after all ASF does not infect humans,” he said.

He said the authorities will monitor and continue to take samples from pig farms within a 5-km radius of the farms with positive cases.

“Roadblocks have been mounted in roads leading to Perkampungan Valdor since January 10,” he said.

Chow also urged pig farmers and the public to report any death relating to wild boars, village pigs, or commercial pigs to the Penang Veterinary Services Department via its Disease Crisis Management Room hotline at 04-504-1047. – Bernama, January 13, 2023