IPOH: The supply of pork during the Chinese New Year celebration is sufficient but there is no guarantee after the festivity, says A. Sivanesan.
The Perak health committee chairman said farm operators have informed him that there may be a shortage of pork due to the African Swine Flu (ASF) that had affected several farms in the state.
"There will be no shortage in the market or price hike during Chinese New Year. There's no need to rush. There is enough meat in the market," he said at a press conference after a food hygiene spot check near Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar here on Thursday (Jan 19).
"Producers, however, cannot guarantee that there will be sufficient meat after Chinese New Year. There's also no indication of the timeframe (for how long the shortage might last)," he said, adding that there are 85 pig farms in the state.
"Sellers also cannot give an assurance for the period after the festivities," he added.
Sivanesan said between December last year and Jan 19, ASF had been detected in one farm in Kuala Kangsar and four farms in Batang Padang.
He said a total of 8,990 pigs have been culled, involving losses of about RM12mil.
Sivanesan assured the people that the disease cannot spread to humans.
"I have instructed the Veterinary Services Department to monitor the situation daily.
"The disease is currently under control," he added.
He also said that ASF was preventable and it was only spread through human error.
"Some people do not sterilise themselves after entering a farm and before going to another farm," he added.
