Sierra Leone News: Farmers in Deprived Communities Lose over 1000 Pigs to Flu
By George M.O Williams
Ministry of Health & Sanitation and the Ministry of Agriculture have said in a joint statement on Tuesday October 22, 2019, that approximately 1080 pigs were affected with disease suspected to swine flu, with 1042 reported dead.
“The cluster death of pigs from an unknown disease in Moa Wharf, Kanikay, Kroo Bay, Kingtom and Eastern Bomeh in Freetown was reported to the Health and Agriculture Ministries following the suspected outbreak of African Swine Flu fever on October 14, 2019,” the Ministries said in a joint statement.
The Ministries said samples of live and dead pigs were taken to Teko Veterinary Laboratory for testing in Makeni.
It was confirmed by both ministries that African Swine Flu is not a risk to human health. However, the public is therefore advised on the health danger of eating sick or dead animals.
“In this regard, any meat and product from affected pigs can be source of infection to other pigs. Pig farmers should therefore ensure that if any food is fed to pigs, it must be pre-cooked for at least an hour; this process will ensure the inactivation of the virus and other disease on the food substance,” they said in the joint statement.
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs and can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with infected domestic or wild pigs, through ingestion of contaminated materials which includes food waste feed, garbage and biological vectors. Pork producers are requested to be vigilant and report any sudden illness or death of their pigs to the ministries.
“In that vein, currently there is no approved vaccine for African Swine Flu, however classic sanitary measures should be imposed which include early detection and humane killing of animals, with proper disposal of carcasses and waste through safe burial, thorough cleaning and disinfection, zoning separation and movement control; surveillance and detailed epidemiological investigation; strict biosecurity measures on pig farms.”
Director at the Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Mohamed Vandi has said that the Ministry of Health and Sanitations is concerned on the sporadic occurrence of suspected swine fever in four communities in Freetown (Moa Wharf, Kanikay, Kroo Bay and the Kissy Dump Site (Bomeh) as the country is moving towards One Health, as it seeks the health of both humans and animals; thereby preventing and respond to any disease that affects both humans and animals and of public health concern.
Dr. Vandi said that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture have heightened surveillance in the affected communities and samples shipped out of the country to ascertained whether the disease calming the lives of pigs is swine fever or otherwise.
“As it stands we are yet to now if the affected pigs are from free range pig firming or those that are in pig pen, all of that we need to know to further plan and protect the lives of other pigs,” Fumed Dr. Vandi.
