THE Department of Veterinary Services today declared an outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF), which was detected in seven commercial pig farms in Paya Mengkuang, Masjid Tanah, Malacca.

Its director-general, Norlizan Mohd Noor, said the confirmation was made after it investigated reports from pig farmers involved, adding that samples that were sent to the Sepang veterinary laboratory were confirmed on December 20, 22 and 23.

He said following the confirmation, the department has taken proactive measures to contain the ASF outbreak by issuing a quarantine order notice to the pig farms concerned to restrict pig movements, among others.

“Pigs from the relevant farms were also destroyed under section 19 of the Animals Act 1953 (Amendment 2013) while those from farms that are certified infection-free are allowed to be slaughtered in approved slaughterhouses only. However, the carcasses and pork are not allowed to be transported to other states,” he said in a statement today.

In addition, he said requirements for pig and pork transfers in the peninsula have been tightened while monitoring, clinical inspection and sampling efforts in all farms in the infected area have been intensified.

Norlizan said monitoring and sampling efforts have also been intensified at all pig slaughterhouses nationwide.

He advised pig farmers to refrain from feeding their livestock with swill or dumping pig carcasses in rivers, pools and orchards.

He also urged pig farmers and the public to report any death relating to wild boar, village pigs or commercial pigs to the nearest district veterinary services office or state veterinary services office or contact the disease crisis management room hotline at 03-88702041.

“The Department of Veterinary Services would also like to advise the public not to panic because ASF is not a zoonotic disease and is not contagious to humans. However, as a safety measure, pork must be cooked at a temperature of at least 70° C for 30 minutes to kill the virus,” he said. – Bernama, December 24, 2021.