KATHMANDU, Feb 17: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) has urged farmers concerned to exercise heightened caution after the risk of African swine fever (ASF) was detected among pigs in and around the Kathmandu Valley.
As no vaccine against the disease is currently available, the ministry has advised farmers to strictly follow biosecurity measures on farms and to immediately inform animal service centres or relevant authorities at the federal, provincial or local levels if pigs die under unusual circumstances.
African swine fever cases detected in pigs in Panauti
African swine fever is caused by a virus that affects domestic pigs and wild boar. Infected animals show symptoms such as high fever (between 104 and 107 degrees), reddening of the ears, tail and lower abdominal skin, among others.
Other symptoms include bluish patches on the body, loss of appetite, vomiting and restlessness. Although the disease has a high mortality rate among animals, it is not transmitted from animals to humans, a doctor at the Agriculture Information and Training Centre under the ministry said.
The centre has been disseminating awareness messages urging farmers to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of infection, the doctor said, warning that if pigs showing such symptoms, their piglets or other animals come into contact during the transportation of meat products from one place to another, the risk of infection spreading increases. He therefore called for heightened vigilance.
The centre stated that African swine fever was first detected in Nepal three years ago. More than 10,000 pigs have reportedly been infected in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas.
