An outbreak of African swine fever has hit The Gambia for the past two months, leading to the death of hundreds of pigs.
African swine fever is a viral trans-boundary animal disease that causes high mortality. According to Dr. Baboucarr Jaw, Director of Veterinary Services, it can neither be prevented medically nor can it be treated. "It has no treatment and has no vaccine. It causes mortality ranging from 80 to 100 percent," he said.
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He advised farmers to apply bio-security measures in order to make sure that virus does not come into contact with the non-infected animals. Jaw warned that farmers should restrict the movement of their pigs, avoid people visiting their pens and avoid using farm equipment or feeds that are infected.
"We also have a surveillance system which consists of disease surveillance officers as well as farmers trained to recognize the early symptoms of the disease," he said. Jaw also urged breeders to properly dispose of affected pigs by either burning or burying them deep in between two layers of white lime. He added that piggeries that have been affected by the disease should be disinfected so that the place will be free from the virus.
He revealed that they are working with the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to transform pig breeding in The Gambia from subsistence husbandry to a semi-intensive or intensive system.
Veronic Saine, President of The Gambia Pig Breeders Association (GPBA), described the outbreak as "serious." John Carlos, Deputy Secretary General of GPBA, told Foroyaa that the outbreak is bearing serious losses of income to the breeders who depend on pigs to feed families, pay educational expenses, clothing and income.
Emmanuel Mendy, Secretary General of GPBA, said it will not take more than seven days for the disease to decimate the animals in a pen, stressing that hygienic measures such as control of movement, boiling feed for thirty minutes before feeding the pigs and proper disposal of the dead ones should be practised.
Mendy, who is also a veterinary officer advised that the pork of the affected animals should not be consumed, noting that it is harmful. He said that an outbreak of African swine fever last occurred in the Gambia in 1999 to 2000, but if the disease is to be eradicated, there should be a regional approach since it is trans-boundary.
