Swine Fever: Three held for violating ban on sale of pork

Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Sironko police are holding three people accused of selling pork to the public from a carcass of a pig believed to have succumbed to African swine fever.

The suspects are Kenneth Wadulu, Junior Mafabi and Charles Wodikinyi, all residents of Bukalu village, Bugwagi parish in Buwasa Sub County in Sironko district.

Herbert Nakachera, an eye witness says that residents alerted the authorities after seeing the suspects selling pork at their butchery from a dead pig.

John Wanzala, the Sironko District Veterinary Officer, says that eating pork from a pig infected by African swine fever fuels the spread of the disease.

He says that they banned the sale and consumption of pork in Buwasa and Buwalasi sub counties and Bugusege town council last month because of the swine fever outbreak but some people have remained adamant.

Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Region police spokesperson, says that the suspects were found in possession of 67 kilograms of pork that they were selling. He says they will be charged with the deliberate spread of disease under the public health act.

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease that affects domestic and wild pigs of all breeds and ages. It presents with high fever, haemorrhages and a high mortality rate.

According to pigsite.com contamination generally occurs via direct contact with tissue and bodily fluids from infected or carrier pigs, including discharges from the nose, mouth, urine and faeces or infected semen.

It also spreads through transport and consumption of contaminated food products and some cases have originated from failure to comply with biosecurity standards by feeding waste food to domestic pigs.

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