SANDAKAN – Consumers here are apparently unperturbed by recent news of an African swine flu (ASF) outbreak among domestic pigs in Pitas.
According to sellers consumption has remained unaffected, despite the news.
Sandakan central market pork seller, Hong, said that he was aware of the news, adding that he was confident pigs in the district were fine.
“Either people are not aware of such news, or they are just confident with the pork that we sell.
“Our meat comes from pig farms in Sandakan and other sellers also source their meat from local farms.
“I think the pigs in Sandakan are fine,” he said.
A housewife who frequents the market to buy meat and vegetables for her family twice a week, Chan Foong Chu, said that she was not aware of the outbreak in Pitas.
“I think my friends also do not know about this. “We are still eating pork as usual.
“If the situation is really serious, I would have seen a notice from the government warning us not to consume pork,” she said.
A noodle seller in Elopura Market, Eric Tan said his sales were also unaffected by the news.
His stall serves wonton noodles which includes minced and barbecued pork among its ingredients.
“So far no one mentioned that they are afraid of eating pork in Sandakan,” he said.
Yesterday, the state Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry set a target to cull 3,000 domestic and wild bearded pigs in Pitas district, after an ASF outbreak involving domestic pigs in the district was declared last Tuesday (February 23).
However. the state government has yet to issue a warning against consuming domestic pork in Sabah.
The Sabah Wildlife Department said that hunting, selling and consumption of wild boars are not advisable for now, following the deaths of 29 bearded pigs in Kinabatangan, Sugut and Paitan.
The cause of death has yet to be identified. – The Vibes, March 1, 2021
