Sierra Leone News: Pig Farmers Record Huge Loss as Swine Flu Takes Hold in Freetown
By George M.O Williams
Pig farmers in Freetown have suffered huge financial loss as swine flu takes hold in Kroo Bay and Kingtom community in the outskirt of Freetown.
Hundreds of pigs have died after contracting the disease.
It is unclear whether the disease poses a risk to humans, thought health officials have warned pig farmers not to sell the meat of affected pigs to the public.
It’s estimated that the outbreak could cost pig growers millions of Leone and decreases the pig population.
A pig farmer at Kroobay, Mohamed Kamara aka Kamajor told Premier News on Monday that the pig flu started two month ago, and “within this period, thousands of our pigs have died as a result of the virus”.
The outbreak of the swine flu has caused financial loss to us pig growers. “Consumers no longer buy pig meat for fear of infected meat,” he said.
Kamara said, “Since the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture has not responded by providing vaccine in order to break the chain of transmission.”
He said that Inspectors from Ministry of Health only visited their pigsty and warned them not to sell the meat of the pigs that have died as a result of the disease. He added that health officials advised them to bury infested pigs.
Kamara called on the government to speedily intervene to save them from losing their livelihood.
Another pig grower in Kingtom, Alfred Kamara said that over 100 pigs died after being infected by swine flu. “This is a catastrophe for us,” he said.
The Food and Agriculture Organization said they are working with the Ministry of Agriculture to identify the swine flu and to break the chain of transmission.
Swine Flu is a highly contagious and seasonal respiratory disease. The virus can spread among pigs by direct or indirect contact.
The Flu has symptoms that include elevated temperatures, vomiting, reduce of appetite, nose and eye discharge, difficulty breathing and convulsion.
The swine influenza virus started few months ago and has led to the death of thousands of pigs which has resulted to financial loss to pig farmers and decrease on the pig population.
