Beware of African Swine Fever, Pigs From Outside The Region Are Not Allowed To Enter The NTT Lembata

Dead Pigs (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The government of Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, has prohibited residents from bringing pigs from outside the area into the area to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) to pigs.

"It is strictly forbidden to bring in pigs and pork products in the form of pork, sei, beef jerky, sausages, pork buns, or other processed pork from outside Lembata Regency", Head of the Agriculture and Food Security Service of Lembata Regency, Kanisius Tuaq, was quoted as saying by ANTARA, Saturday, January 14th.

He said that his party already knew that pig deaths due to ASF disease would start to rise again in early 2023 in Maumere, Sikka Regency, Larantuka and Adonara Island in East Flores Regency, Kupang City, and the mainland of Timor Island.

Therefore, he said, residents who travel from those areas to Lembata Regency are prohibited from bringing livestock, meat, or other processed products made from pigs.

In addition, residents are also prohibited from cutting, distributing, and selling sick or dead pork, let alone distributing sick pork to family or relatives because it can accelerate the transmission of the ASF virus.

Dead pig carcasses, he said, also should not be disposed of in public places such as seas, waterways, and public roads or rivers because they have the potential to contaminate and spread the ASF virus more widely.

"Residents are welcome to bury any dead pigs independently in their respective locations", he said.

Kanisius urged residents to report sick or dead pigs immediately to the nearest animal health officer or the Agriculture and Food Security Office in the local district.

To minimize the potential for transmission of ASF, he said, residents need to maintain sanitation or clean cages and not feed pigs with processed products made from pork or meat washing waste.

"Residents also need to avoid direct contact with sick or dead pigs to minimize the potential for disease transmission", he said.