SEBERANG PERAI, Jan 13 ― Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow declared the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in the state a disaster.
He said a total 25,000 pigs were positive for ASF and will be culled.
The pigs infected are from seven commercial pig farms in South Seberang Perai (five) and Central Seberang Perai (two) districts.
As at today, he said a total 929 pigs have been culled and their carcasses buried on-site.
The remaining pigs from the affected farms will be culled in stages, which could take weeks, he said.
"The Veterinary Services Department (DVS) will carry out monitoring within a 5km radius from the affected farms to prevent the spread of the ASF,” he said in a press conference at Perkampungan Valdor here.
He said it is important for all pig farm operators to report deaths involving their pigs at their respective farms so that tests could be conducted to prevent the outbreak from spreading.
"In order to prevent the spread of ASF, DVS Penang has carried out a stamping out policy through the culling of pigs in farms that have been confirmed positive for ASF,” he said.
The culling is done using the CO2 (High Concentration) gas method which is in accordance with the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Code of Practice - Animal Disposal Management.
He said the culling exercise could not start earlier due to land constraints for the disposal of carcasses.
Chow said road blocks had also been implemented along roads leading to Perkampungan Valdor since January 10 to control the movement of live pigs and pig carcasses from the infected area.
He added that there is no effective vaccine against ASF and highlighted the importance to stop it from spreading further.
