Swine disease outbreak hits district in Lampang

LAMPANG: Livestock officials in Mae Tha district have declared the district a disease control zone to prevent an outbreak of a swine disease following the deaths of hundreds of pigs there in recent weeks.

Sorn Theepatimakorn, a provincial livestock official, said almost 1,000 pigs have been slaughtered as part of a precautionary action after Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRSS) was diagnosed on local farms.

The number of swine deaths caused by the disease is being verified, he said.

He said the spread of the disease in Mae Tha district has been brought under control and is limited to small farms, which have fewer than 200 pigs.

The transport of pigs in Mae Tha district has been restricted and interprovincial transport is also under tightened control, he said. The district has been put under a 30-day surveillance order and violators face a two-year jail term and/or a fine of 40,000 baht.

Mr Sorn urged pig farmers to inform livestock officials if the animals become sick or die, so officials can investigate and conduct laboratory tests on blood samples to determine the cause.

Residents in Ban Nong, tambon Mae Jo, said about 500 pigs have been killed and disposed of as advised by livestock officials following the outbreak. However, some are concerned about health risks posed to humans by the disease.

Lampang is home to a large number of pig farms of varying sizes.