AFRICAN SWINE FEVER DEATHS RISE TO OVER 300 IN WEST NILE
By Dramadri Federick
Arua City
Veterinary doctors have warned farmers over leaving their pigs to stray following the rapid surge in the animal deaths due to African swine fever in West Nile Region.
Since veterinarians confirmed the outbreak of African swine fever in West Nile Region a week ago, the regions pig deaths has reached 365.
Surveillance reports indicate that the African Swine Fever has rapidly spread in a span of two weeks to various areas across the region including Riki, Odramacaku, Ombeteni, Manibe, Aroi and Dadamu all in Arua city, Offaka in Madi Okollo district, Logiri, Vurra and Arivu sub counties in Arua district meanwhile Bileafe and Uriama sub counties in Terego district have also reported deaths among pigs due to African Swim fever.
Dr. Willy Nguma the director West Nile regional Veterinary Lab who is also the acting head of One Health under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in west Nile region, says with the changes in weather patterns, cases of animal disease outbreaks are on the rise and that they have dispatched a team of vet scouts to carryout surveillance to ascertain the magnitude of the disease.
“The fact that we’re receiving droplets of rain which are light is dangerous, in the recent few days our extrapolations go up to 365 pig deaths and many more. We are looking at not restricting surveillance only on farm we would like to carry out the surveillance of these diseases off farm in markets, slaughter facilities among other places”.
Lawrence Anguyo the assistant Animal Husbandry Officer Logiri sub county cautions meat lovers to put a hold on consuming dead pigs to avoid the risk of more infections spread.
“The African swine fever virus itself is a very resistant virus, even high temperatures my not kill it and also disinfection protocols may not easily kill the virus. These issues of say I roasted the meat or boiled it very well may not be enough to kill the virus”.
African swine fever presents with fever, abortions in pregnant pigs, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing among others which can be transmitted after infected animals mingle with the uninfected ones.
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