6,652 Pigs In Central Sulawesi Reportedly Died Suddenly Exposed To ASF Disease

The task is to take samples to be examined regarding the findings of Singapore which stated that the pig from Pulau Bulan, Batam was hit by African swine flu. (ANTARA)

PALU - The Department of Plantation and Livestock (Disbunnak) of Central Sulawesi Province recorded as many as 6,652 cases of pigs dying suddenly suspected due to African Swine Fever (ASF) disease or African Babi Fever in the area. "The disease of swine fever in Central Sulawesi was first discovered in Poso Regency in January," said Head of Veterinary Animal Health and Public Health (Keswan and Kesmavet) of the Central Sulawesi Plantation and Livestock Service, Dandy Alfita, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 26. Based on the case data reported in the National Animal Health Information System (ISIKHNAS) as of January to May 2023, Poso Regency recorded 2,971 cases and Morowali as many as 39 positive cases of ASF.

Meanwhile in Parigi Moutong Regency, as many as 3,642 cases are still waiting for the results of the sample test. "So indeed if the ASF virus works the way if one animal has been exposed, it will definitely spread to all of them," he said. Dandy Alfita explained that African Babi Fever is a disease that attacks pigs and is very contagious, causes various bleedings in the internal organs of animals and is accompanied by a high mortality rate. "The symptoms of pigs affected by the African swine fever virus, including pigs are lethargic and fever, lack of appetite, causing sudden death. Usually it is two weeks from the first exposure," he said.

According to him, livestock traffic is suspected to be the cause of the virus entering Central Sulawesi. He explained that there has been no vaccine for the virus so that the current prevention efforts are in the form of controlling livestock traffic and providing disinfectant.