KUCHING: Malaysia is at risk of being infected with the African Swine Fever (ASF) if stringent measures are not taken to prevent its spread.
The ASF has severely affected the pig industry in China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and, North and South Korea.
The disease is also reported to be spreading into Eastern European countries.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has described ASF as one of the deadliest viruses affecting the industry.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (DVSS) had taken several measures to fight the disease.
These included conducting several sessions with stakeholders statewide since last month, coming up with awareness campaigns and enforcing regulatory measures such as banning the import of pig and pork products from affected countries.
Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, and Second Finance Minister, said the department had also discouraged small-time farmers from feeding kitchen waste to their pigs.
“The state has about 30,000 sows producing about 402,000 porkers (young pigs raised and fattened for food) annually worth RM400 million.
“It is the DVSS’ responsibility to ensure the state continues to be free of the ASF. The Regulatory Division of DVSS will continue to enforce the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, 1999 to ensure pork and pork products are only imported from ASF-free countries.
“All imports must have the import permit,” he stressed.
Uggah warned that those caught smuggling pork and pork products would be severely dealt with.
He said to-date, the DVSS has confiscated 126kg of pork and pork products at the Kuching International Airport.
He appealed to the people to continue giving their fullest support and cooperation to ensure the state would continue to be free from ASF in order to protect the state’s pig population.
In this way, consumers could be assured of continuous supply of pork and pork products as well, he said.
