ASF outbreak in Penang a 'disaster', says CM

BUTTERWORTH: The state has declared the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak here a "disaster" after cases were reported in five more commercial pig farms in two districts.

This brings the count up to seven commercial pig farms with ASF cases, involving 25,000 pigs.

Five of the affected farms were in the South Seberang Prai district and two were in the Central Seberang Prai district.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said 929 pigs from the farm that first reported ASF cases had been culled and their carcasses buried on site.

"All 25,000 pigs from the seven affected farms will be culled in stages to prevent the spread of ASF.

"The culling exercise may take weeks to complete.

"The Veterinary Services Department (DVS) will monitor the situation within a 5km radius from the affected farms to prevent the spread of ASF," he said in Perkampungan Valdor here on Friday (Jan 13).

Chow then urged all pig farm operators to report the deaths of any of their pigs for testing to be carried out to prevent the situation from going further downhill.

He said the ASF outbreak was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted between Jan 4 and 12 on pig samples from the affected farms.

"To control and prevent the spread of ASF, the Penang DVS has implemented a stamping out policy to cull pigs in farms that have ASF cases.

"The culling is done with CO2 gas and done according to the Animal Welfare Code of Practice and Animal Disposal Management guidelines before the pigs are buried.

"The culling could not start earlier due to constraints in the area that will be used as a disposal site," he said.

Chow said roadblocks have been mounted on roads leading to Perkampungan Valdor since Jan 10.

"This has been done to control the movement of live pigs and pig carcasses from infected areas to control the spread of ASF.

Last September, two commercial pig farms in the Kerian district in Perak were hit by ASF.

Last year, there were ASF outbreaks at 124 pig farms in Penang — 64 in Northern Seberang Prai, 52 in South Seberang Prai, four in Central Seberang Prai and four on the island, involving a total of 267,348 pigs.

The outbreak in South Seberang Prai district alone involved 139,795 pigs.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, ASF has become a major crisis for the pork industry in recent years and is affecting several regions around the world.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease for domestic and wild pigs and the mortality rate can reach 100%.

The disease was not a danger to humans but could have a devastating impact on pig populations and the farming industry.

There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.