Kalambo District in Rukwa Region is under quarantine following an outbreak of Africa Swine Fever (ASF) which has killed 105 pigs.
The District Commissioner Julieth
Binyura has consequently banned the slaughter of pigs and the
sale of
pork until further notice.
The Africa Swine Fever first hit Masanzi
hamlet three months ago and later spread to the neighbouring ward of
Legezamwendo and Mambwe Nkoswe. Binyura said she convened a meeting with
local government leaders in the affected areas to discuss ways of
containing the disease.
“I have already directed local
functionaries to prohibit transportation of pigs from one area to
another until the disease is contained,” she explained.
She also directed local leaders to
implement her directives to ensure that people do not break the
quarantine measures. Kalambo District Livestock Officer, Wilbroad
Kansapa, directed all pigs found wandering in streets would be seized
and owners taken to task. Scientists say the African Swine Fever virus
(ASFV) is the causative agent of ASF).
It causes haemorrhagic fever with high
mortality rates in pigs. ASFV is a large, double-stranded DNA virus
which replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells, and is the only
member of the Asfarviridae family.
ASFV infects domestic pigs, warthogs and
bushpigs as well as soft ticks (Ornithodoros), which likely act as a
vector. The virus causes a lethal haemorraghic disease in domestic pigs.
It is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The disease was first discovered
after European settlers brought pigs into areas endemic with ASFV
No comments :
Post a Comment