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Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbarara veterinary authorities have disposed of more than 1000 kilograms of pork because of African swine fever.
The pork was impounded from Pork Slaughter House in Kekombe in Kakoba Division on Wednesday.
Dr. Moses Amanyire, the Veterinary Officer Mbarara Municipality, says the impounded pork was found to be contaminated with African swine fever.
“This meat is suspected to have African Swine Fever. We cannot let the owner go and dispose it, we are not sure. That is why every slaughter place should have an incinerator. We do this ourselves to limit the spread of the disease so that more animals do not get the disease,” he said.
He says that they are to follow up to establish the origin of the impounded pork for appropriate action.
“We do this to try and identify the disease from origin. We trace it so that we inform those where it originated about the disease, ” he said.
Dr. Amanyire says they have resolved to inspect all pig slaughter houses in Mbarara and pig farms after receiving information that some pork dealers slaughter pigs outside the gazetted slaughter houses.
He notes that although African swine fever is not harmful to humans, it causes economic loss to pig farmers.
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African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by loss of appetite, diarrhea, fever, and exhaustion in pigs.
Erikan Mujuni, the Chairperson Kakombe Slaughter house, says that there is scarcity of pork in Mbarara because of the African swine fever.
He says the number of slaughtered pig has reduced from 50 to between 18 and 20 pigs each day.
Naboth Mwesigwa, a Pork Dealer from Masha in Isingiro District, says they are counting loses because most of the pork inspected tests positive for African swine fever.
