Moves to prevent spread of African Swine Fever

Sri Lanka is experiencing an outbreak of African Swine Fever, especially in the Western Province, and officials have said that attempts are being made to stop the spread to other areas.

Sri Lanka’s Western and Wayamba Provinces have the highest concentration of pig farms, K K Sarath, Western Provincial Director of the Department of Animal Production and Health, told Sri Lanka’s Derana television.

He said there are around 1,000 registered pig farms in the Western Province with 40,000 to 50,000 pigs, but the number is believed to be under-reported by farmers.

The numbers being brought forward for vaccination show that farmers had previously under-reported flocks, he said.

It takes about 6 to 8 months to grow and slaughter a pig, and in any case, the figure is dynamic, he said.

In the Western Province, 11,607 pigs have died based on official data, and 21,000 are infected with the disease, Sarath said.

African swine fever was first detected in Sri Lanka in 2019, and it was controlled with several measures. Sarath said this is the second outbreak.

Authorities are also planning to issue a gazette notice to stop the transport of pigs to other provinces.

There was an 1896 British era Ordinance under which an order could be issued, Upul Rohana, the head of the island’s Public Health Inspector’s Union, said.

Regardless of whether people can contract the disease from eating cooked pork, it is always recommended that only healthy animals free from whatever infectious disease is consumed, Sarath said.

Though there were requirements for cattle inspection before and after being killed to ensure that only healthy animals are slaughtered for consumption, Rohana said no such regulations exist for pigs.

It was not clear whether how the second outbreak occurred.