IPOH: Perak has detected African Swine Fever (ASF) at three commercial pig farms in Hilir Perak and Batang Padang.
State Plantation, Agriculture, and Food Industry Committee chairman Razman Zakaria said that the cases were confirmed by the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) laboratory here, using the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests.
Razman said one case was reported in the Hilir Perak district and two others in the Batang Padang district after tests were done on March 27 and April 4, respectively.
"Following the spread of this disease, a quarantine notice under Section 18(2) of the Animals Act 1953 (Revised 2006)(Act 647) was issued to the owners of the pig farms.
"They are not allowed to move the pigs and carcasses in and out of infected areas. A total six pig farms within a five km radius (epidemic area) from the farms that were confirmed positive were also quarantined for further inspections and sampling.
"All affected pigs were immediately disposed of under Section 19 of the Animals Act 1953 (Revised 2006) to control the spread. To date, 990 pigs have been culled from the farms involved," he said in a press conference at his office in Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here, today.
The pigs were destroyed using the CO2 gas method (high concentration) based on the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Code of Practice-Animal Disposal Management before being properly buried.
Razman added that monitoring, clinical examinations, and samplings of all pig farms in Hilir Perak and Batang Padang continued to be actively carried out to detect ASF infections.
"Commercial pig farmers are advised to enhance strict biosecurity controls in their pig farms to curb the spread of ASF.
"To ensure stricter control and enforcement can be carried out, the Perak ASF Disease Control and Eradication Areas Order was gazetted on Apr 4.
"Pig farmers and the public are required to report any wild boars, pigs, or commercially-reared pig deaths to the nearby district Veterinary Services Office (PPVD) or state Veterinary Service Office at 05-545 9111," he said. - NST
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