KUCHING: Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom has described the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Sarawak as a ‘disaster’ after thousands of pigs have been culled to curb the spread of the disease.
He said he has instructed the state Veterinary Services Department (DVS) to look into the matter seriously and how to avoid it from happening in the future.
“It is frustrating as any farm infected with ASF will be sealed, quarantined and all the pigs inside the farm will be culled and the carcasses disposed of by burial on site,” he said.
“Several farms in Miri, Sibu and Sarikei have been affected, but I do not have the exact figure off-hand now,” he told the reporters after the launch of a seminar on Red Claw Crayfish Culture held here today.
“Thus, I have instructed the DVS to see how best we can protect the animals from such a virus as it also leads to serious economic losses to our local farmers and also impacts food security,” he added.
Rundi said ASF is a highly virulent and contagious viral disease affecting only pigs. The virus is not harmful to humans and it is not a zoonotic disease.
He also assured that the pig farming area (PFA) at Pasir Puteh in Simunjan continues to be protected and free from the virus.
“We are restricting anyone from visiting the farm and movement of the animals as we want to protect the pig farm there as that’s where most of the exported pigs and pork come from. Hence, we must make sure it is free from the ASF,” he said.
Rundi added that the DVS and other relevant authorities were also reviewing various standard operating procedure in managing the ASF outbreak, including the culling and burial process as well as how to prevent it from spreading further.
He added that the authorities also need the cooperation from the hunters, pig farmers and the whole community to prevent more animals from infected with the disease.
