City
Epaper

Swine fever kills nearly five million pigs in a year: UN

By IANS | Published: August 09, 2019 11:50 PM

Almost 5 million pigs in Asia have now died or been culled because of the spread of African swine fever over the past year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Friday, warning Asian nations to keep strict control measures in place.

Open in App

ASF has wiped out over 10 per cent of the pig population in China, Vietnam and Mongolia, and is also present in Cambodia, North Korea and Laos, FAO said, citing its latest figures.

The contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs was first detected in Asia one year ago this month. While not dangerous to humans, the disease causes up to 100 per cent fatality in pigs, leading to severe economic losses to the pig sector, FAO said.

With FAO support, other countries in the region are ramping up preparedness efforts to prevent further spreading of the disease, the UN agency said.

"As there is no commercially available vaccine, we need to place greater emphasis on other disease counter efforts. Countries must be vigilant at borders - land, sea or air - in preventing the disease's entrance and spread through the introduction of infected pigs or contaminated pork products. Outbreaks need to be reported immediately," said FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth.

"We are urging at-risk countries to implement effective biosecurity measures to prevent infected live pigs or contaminated pork products from crossing their borders," he added.

On top of the Asian outbreak, Europe is currently experiencing a slowly-spreading epidemic among some of its wild pig population and some countries have introduced tight restrictions to limit the movement of wild pigs, FAO reported.

ASF was first detected in Africa in the 1920s.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: FAOASFasiaun
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalAfter AR Rahman, Badshah to mentor Dharavi children

PoliticsModi becomes first Indian PM to receive France's highest award

Other SportsReliance Foundation's Jyothi Yarraji wins historic gold at Asian Athletics Championships

PoliticsUN official in Jordan voices concern over funding shortfall

InternationalDIFC announces Future Sustainability Forum in Dubai

स्वास्थ्य Realted Stories

HealthPCOS Diet: 3 Superfoods for Health & Balance

Health'IDIOT' syndrome hampers asthma treatment: experts

HealthMBBS student appears for NEET-2024 exam in place of younger brother, both arrested

HealthResearchers find how eye ultrasounds help detecting brain shunt failure in children

HealthTN Health Dept launches counselling services as Class 12 board results announced