Over 27,000 ASF-infected pigs culled in Penang this year

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A total of 27,344 pigs have been culled in Penang so far this year to contain the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the state.

Penang Veterinary Services Department (DVS) director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said livestock at 21 of the 30 commercial pig farms where ASF was positively identified had already been disposed of.

Meanwhile, the remaining nine farms were instructed to slaughter their pigs at designated abattoirs before selling them after the second test on the animals came back negative for ASF, she said.

"Currently, there are five farms suspected to be ASF positive. One of them is in North Seberang Perai and four others in South Seberang Perai Selatan," she told reporters here today.

In a separate matter, Saira Banu said Penang was still free of rabies cases. The last positive case of the virus was reported in the state about eight years ago.

She said the department conducts surveillance and sampling every year to detect the virus in at-risk dogs and the results obtained so far have been negative. - Bernama