By DAVID KANDUZA –
GOVERNMENT has said it is working round-the-clock to bring the swine fever which broke out in October this year in Muchinga and Northern provinces under control.
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Minister Michael Katambo said 2,000 pigs had so far been slaughtered in Samfya and Mbala districts as a measure to stop the spread of the disease which had no treatment or vaccine.
Mr Katambo said Government released K500,000 to Luapula while K66,000 had been sent to Samfya District where the outbreak of the disease was first reported and where more than 1,000 pigs have died.
The minister said the funds were meant to compensate farmers and mobility purposes for the offices who were trying to contain the disease.
Swine fever, also known as hog cholera, is a contagious viral disease of domestic and wild swine. It is caused by a virus of the genus Pestivirus of the family.
Mr Katambo said the only way to control the disease was to kill all affected pigs and regulate the movement of pigs in the two provinces.
The minister said the ministry in the province was conducting awareness campaigns and sensitising chiefs, headmen and pig farmers on the disease.
Mr Katabo said the ministry was considering de-populating pigs in affected areas as one way of controlling the outbreak.
He said a ban on the sale of pig products in the two provinces had been enforced and would remain effective until the problem was under control.
He said the ban which also includes movement of pigs and pig product was aimed at containing the outbreak and that people should avoid eating pigs which die on its own.
Mr Katambo said the ministry was working with the local authorities in the affected areas and the police to ensure that the public complied with the ban.
He appealed to pig farmers in the two provinces to report any suspected cases of African swine fever.