KOTA KINABALU: Awareness of African Swine Fever (ASF) prevention among pig breeders needs to be increased to curb the spread of the virus, says Papar district officer Hazlan Jablee.
On Thursday (Oct 21), Papar became the latest district to be declared an ASF outbreak zone in Sabah.
"Pig breeders are cautioned to be more alert regarding measures to prevent ASF; and for those whose pigs have already been exposed to the virus, to keep it from spreading," he said on Friday (Oct 22).
In view of the outbreak, Hazlan said steps recommended by the state Veterinary Services Department must be taken into consideration by villagers in this district, to ensure that the ASF virus can be contained.
Hadzlan said Papar was declared an outbreak zone after the virus was detected at Kg Kogopon and Kg Purak in the district on Oct 12.
However, the 91 pigs affected only involved backyard pigs and not commercial pigs in farms, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said in a statement on Thursday.
Besides Papar, Kota Kinabalu and Tenom were declared ASF outbreak zones on Sept 30 and Oct 13 respectively.
Kitingan, who is state Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, has said all ASF incidents in these districts are considered isolated, which is why his ministry has not considered culling pigs there yet.
He also gave an assurance that pork supply in local markets will not be disrupted.
