MIRI – Sibu residents are facing potential health threats as a result of the mass culling of pigs infected by the African swine flu recently.
Dudong Assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said on his social media platforms that residents have been complaining about the strong stench and queried whether or not the carcasses were properly disposed of.
“Residents are complaining that the air has become foul, and they have said the culled pigs may not have been properly disposed of. Are the culled pigs being properly buried?
“I want the veterinary unit and the local council authority to look into this immediately. The culling must not create health threats or air pollution that can affect the general public.
“The culling operation and disposal of the dead animals must be done properly,” said Tiong, who is also the Bintulu MP, in his social media chats with his constituents.
Over the past two weeks, the African swine flu had spread rather rapidly in central Sarawak, infecting pig farms from Sibu town to the outskirts.
Droves of pigs in at least 14 longhouses in the area have also been found infected, with reports that livestock had suddenly died in their barns.
The outbreak has also infected around 1,640 pigs in three farms outside of Sibu town.
Sarawak Agriculture Modernisation and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Stephen Rundi Utom had issued a directive for mass culling of these animals in the infected farms last week.
“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 had said in a statement, noting that the carcasses and the animal feed must be buried.
He explained that culling was the only way to stop the spread of the swine flu and that currently there is no vaccine against it.
Therefore, the authorities were forced to seal each infected farm and have the animals culled.
“The disease can cause huge economic losses if not stopped from spreading,” he had said.
Rundi said the Veterinary Department has been told to step up checks in all pig farms state-wide.
The swine flu there is believed to have started when pigs started to die suddenly in farms owned by private entrepreneurs. – The Vibes, February 24, 2022
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