KUCHING: Sarawak Livestock Breeders Association secretary Dr Ng Siew Thiam has suggested compartmentalisation as Sarawak Livestock Breeders Association secretary Dr Ng Siew Thiam has suggested compartmentalisation as a way to curb the potential spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) within Sarawak, if it enters from neighbouring states and countries.
He explained that this would involve compartmentalising Sarawak into zones so that if an outbreak of ASF occurs in a particular zone, better control can be achieved by preventing pigs and pork products from moving out of the infected zone into unaffected zones.
He said if there were no ASF outbreaks, these products could move freely between the zones.
“For instance, perhaps Limbang and Lawas can be made into one zone, whereby if the virus comes into this zone, the authorities can ensure that it does not cross over to other areas in the state such as Miri and so on.
“This would help to prevent the whole of Sarawak from being infected,” he said when contacted by New Sarawak Tribune on Wednesday (July 7).
He said this when commenting on concerns regarding ASF and recent reports and claims of wild boar and pig deaths in Kapit and Lawas, for which ongoing investigations are being conducted by the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS).
Dr Ng said that by implementing compartmentalisation if Sarawak were to record cases of ASF, there would still be pockets that are uninfected and could maintain clean status.
“If we properly practise this, our pork can still be exported, the meat is still safe for consumption, and the disease can be controlled.”
He pointed out that compartmentalisation was an internationally recognised and acceptable practice by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Noting that ASF was present in Sabah and North Kalimantan, he said an alternative solution – albeit unfeasible – was to create a corridor and physical fences between Sarawak and these regions to ensure that no wild animals crossed over through the jungles.
“But because of our geographical location and topography, I think this is almost impossible.”
In response to a question on measures to be implemented if DVSS’ investigations in Kapit and Lawas uncover positive ASF cases, he said the movement of pigs and pork products from those areas would have to be ceased.
“Usually, we would need to carry the meat from an infected area to a non-infected area for the disease to spread. So, the first measure would be to not move these products around. This would normally stop the virus from spreading.”
He said farm areas that had been identified as ASF-infected would have to be disinfected thoroughly to prevent the virus from persisting or spreading.
If wild boars in the jungle were infected, he said this could still be contained in the wild and not passed on to domesticated pigs if humans did not get into contact with them.
“For wild boars, don’t get in touch with the carcasses, don’t bring them back home, and don’t eat them. Then, the disease will remain in the jungle and not cross over to the farm areas.
“Farmers have to protect their pigs; don’t let them get into contact with wild boars as they could potentially get infected.
“At this moment, it is best to confine domesticated pigs to an enclosed area such as a pig pen so they do not get in touch with wild boars to prevent the spread.”
Dr Ng said that although humans could not be infected by ASF, they would suffer economic losses if their domesticated pigs were infected.
Thus far, Sarawak is still free of ASF.
