THE Department of Veterinary Services confirmed today that African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in wild boar in Bidor and Sungkai in Perak and Jerantut in Pahang.

The department said in a statement that the spread of the viral disease is under control and does not include commercial pigs.

It said the Veterinary Research Institute in Ipoh provided confirmation via a real-time polymerase chain reaction test and analysis sequencing, which revealed that it was a genotype 2 strain on December 6 for Perak and December 7 for Pahang.

The department said prevention measures have been imposed to curb the spread, including restricting pig movement and improved biosecurity at commercial farms across the peninsula.

It is also conducting clinical surveillance on farms and abattoirs as well as working closely with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, police, civil defence force, Department of Orang Asli Development and oil palm plantation agencies.

The public and farmers are advised not to panic because ASF cannot be transmitted to humans.

“Swineherds have been told to increase the biosecurity on their farms to prevent the spread of ASF to commercial pigs,” the department said.

It also urged farmers and the public to report unusual deaths involving wild boar and village and commercial pigs to their district and state branches or call its crisis hotline based in Putrajaya at (03) 8870 2041. – Bernama, December 17, 2021.