CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow today urged the public and pig farmers in Penang to come forward to report any African Swine Fever (ASF) case to the state Veterinary Services Department (JPV) for swift action to be taken to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.
He said the state government views the matter seriously and necessary actions need to be taken to address the issue.
“Once JPV detects an ASF case, immediate action will be taken by the department before closing down the pig farm.
“We need to prevent the outbreak from spreading further, especially after seven commercial pig farms were affected so far. Five of them are in the south Seberang Perai district while two are in the central Seberang Perai district.
“JPV has conducted the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on the pigs from Jan 4 to 12. The department found out that the pigs were infected with ASF,” Chow said at a media conference in Perkampungan Valdor, Jawi after being briefed by JPV on the latest outbreak.
Chow said that 929 pigs had been culled to date.
“The culling exercise will take some time to complete and JPV has been conducting strict control to prevent the ASF from spreading further,” he said.
Chow added that roadblocks have also been mounted in Perkampungan Valdor since the ASF cases were reported.
“We want to control the movement of livestock and pig carcasses from the affected farms,” he said.
Separately, Chow said the state would locate alternative sites for the pig carcasses to be buried.
“We hope the public can understand the matter,” he said, describing the ASF outbreak as a ‘disaster’.
State Veterinary Services Department director Dr Saira Banu said her department was monitoring the situation closely to prevent any further outbreaks.
“A total of 25,000 pigs are involved (from the seven affected pig farms) and they will be culled in stages to prevent the spread of ASF.
“We will be conducting a stamping-out policy to cull pigs which are involved with ASF,” she said.
Also present during the press conference were Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, Jawi assemblyman Jason H’ng and Malaysia Veterinary Services Department director-general Dr Akma Ngah Hamid.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud