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Sheema, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Sheema district authorities have banned the movement and sale of pigs and pig products following the suspected outbreak of African swine fever.
The ban has been imposed in the town councils of Kitagata, Shuuku, Bugongi, Rugarama, Kasaana, and Kitagata sub county.
Dr Joseph Amanya, the Sheema district veterinary officer says that more than 60 pigs in Kitagata sub-county have signs of African swine fever while others have died.
He asked the farmers to isolate all the sick pigs and carry out proper disposal of the carcass and disinfect regularly and avoid visiting infected premises.
Alex Boona, a pig farmer in Kitagata sub county says that he has lost 21 pigs in three days and he suspects that disease was from Buyanja in Bushenyi district.
Eldard Asiimwe, another farmer in Shuuku town council says he has lost 6 pigs and 32 piglets.
He suspects that the disease might have come through the feeds he brought from a pork joint in Kyeibanga trading centre.
Dr Amanya says they have picked samples and submitted them to National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC) in Entebbe and are waiting on the results.
African swine fever is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease that presents lack of appetite, red skin, bloody diarrhoea, and vomiting in the affected pig.
African swine fever is spread through direct contact with infected pigs, faeces or body fluids, and indirect contact with tools used on the farm, vehicles or people who work with pigs between pig farms with ineffective biosecurity and also pigs eating infected pig meat or meat products.
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