AFRICAN swine fever (ASF) has spread in Penang, with seven more pig farms being hit.

This brings the total number of farms affected by the outbreak to 18 in three districts.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the farms – 14 in the Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) district, and two each in the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) and Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) districts – involved more than 48,000 pigs.

“Previously, farms infected with ASF were only in SPT and SPS, but sampling conducted by the Penang Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) confirmed that the disease has spread and pigs in Kampung Selamat in SPU, near Nibong Tebal, are now infected,” he said at a press conference at Perkampungan Valdor in Nibong Tebal today.

“To control and prevent the spread of ASF, Penang DVS will be culling the infected pigs and those suspected to be infected in the infection zone in accordance with the Malaysian veterinary protocol for ASF.”

He said so far, 4,204 pigs have been culled in the SPS district and this action will go on until all infected animals are culled and disposed of.

Chow said the state government has identified a 16ha site located far from public settlements to be used as a disposal ground.

He also said pork sold in the state is safe for consumption and supply is sufficient to meet the needs of the people as there are still farms that are free of the disease.

State DVS director Saira Bani Mohamed Rejab said her department is always transparent and provides all reports and results of laboratory tests to the farmers involved.

She said DVS provides compensation of between RM400 and RM800 for each adult pig culled, but there are conditions which must be complied with by the breeders. – Bernama, January 19, 2023.