Over 700 animals dead amid African swine fever outbreak in West Nile
Veterinary officers say the outbreak was first reported towards the end of February after several pigs began dying en masse.
Dr. Willy Nguma in his office at Arua district headquarters. (Credit: Prossy Nankanja)
WEST NILE - An outbreak of the contagious African swine fever in the West Nile districts of Arua and Terego, and Arua city has led to the deaths of over 700 pigs, authorities say.
Veterinary officers say the outbreak was first reported towards the end of February after several pigs began dying en masse.
The viral African swine fever is highly contagious and can be transmitted through direct contact with infected pigs and contaminated materials.
It is characterised by vomiting, diarrhoea, which is sometimes bloody, reddening or darkening of the skin, particularly the ears and snout, gummed-up eyes, laboured breathing and coughing, abortion, still births and weak litters, weakness and inability to stand.
The virus causes a hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in domestic pigs. It does not cause disease in humans.
This time around, the worst-hit areas are Ringili, Kuluva, Opia, Arivu, Anyavu, Ezuku, Aajia in Arua district; Odramacaku and Adumi in Arua city, and parts of Terego.
Farmers in the affected areas are bearing the brunt of the outbreak, suffering heavy losses from the deaths of their animals.
Piggery has been an increasingly lucrative venture in West Nile.
“About 738 pigs have died due to the outbreak, and this has a financial impact on our farmers since rearing pigs has become a lucrative business within West Nile and neighbouring countries,” said veterinary officer Dr Willy Nguma, the Arua district production officer, on Tuesday (March 31).
He urged farmers to control the movement and slaughtering of pigs to prevent the disease from spreading, since there is no approved vaccine or treatment for it.
“This disease is devastating. So farmers, please, if your farm has not been affected, do not allow your pigs to loiter around looking for food or feeding them with leftovers," cautioned Nguma.
He also warned against allowing people to enter farms anyhow.
On average, a pig weighing more than 20 kilogrammes is sold at between sh300,000 and sh400,000.
A 100kg pig can sell for as much as sh2m.
Back in 2008, 2010 and 2011, an outbreak of the African swine fever in West Nile killed thousands of pigs in Arua, Moyo, Zombo and Adjumani districts.