Pig farmers urged to cooperate with authorities in culling exercise
KOTA KINABALU: Pitas assemblyman Datuk Ruddy Awah called on pig farmers in Pitas, including Paitan and Sugud, to give their full cooperation to authorities who will be going around the district to carry out a culling exercise after the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus was detected in the area.
According to Ruddy he was informed thatthe Sabah Veterinary Services Department (DVS) officials will be visiting more areas outside the main farm where the ASF virus was first detected.
“To this end, all owners are urged to give their cooperation when asked to surrender their livestocks and to allow culling to be done to prevent the spread of the ASF,” he said when contacted.
Ruddy gave his assurance that their details will be taken and they will be given compensation, and urged those affected to be patient as it would take some time due to the number of procedures involved including getting an estimate of losses for those affected and to have the compensation amount discussed and approved in cabinet.
He disclosed that officials are also monitoring the situation in Kota Marudu.
Ruddy stressed thatthe ASF virus only affects the animals and causes its population to decrease.
On Tuesday, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said DVS had been given the authority under Subsection 45(1) of the Animal Enactment 2015, to take the necessary action to curb the spread of the disease.
This includes the culling of about 2,500 pigs both wild and farmed, in the affected areas, controlling the movement of pigs and the selling of pork products originating from the affected areas, he said.
“At the same time, the affected villages and premises will be disinfected and the government through the DVS will also kick off an awareness campaign to increase the people’s understanding about the disease,” he said.
Kitingan said the culling of all affected pigs will be done as soon as possible because ASF is a highly infectious disease with no cure or ready vaccine to prevent the disease.