The danger lurks because pork is among the most consumed meat in Bhutan

Chencho Dema 

An outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed in Punakha and Wangdue. The disease was confirmed in a commercial piggery farm in Zawakha, Daga Gewog, Wangdue, on June 28, and at Tshether Farm in Sirigang in Kabjisa Gewog, Punakha, on June 29.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) attributed the outbreak to movement of infected pigs and contaminated pig products and practice of swill feeding.

ASF is a highly lethal disease that affects pigs, often leading to disruptions in the livelihoods of pig farmers.

On June 28, the samples were sent to National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH) in Serbithang and the laboratory tests was conducted on June 29. The same day, the result confirmed the outbreak of African Swine Fever.

As per the public notification, the general public are advised to refrain from illegal import of pig and pig products and report if seen someone making illegal import to Bhutan Food and Drug Authority.

Dr Jamtsho said: “While the source of the outbreak has not yet been definitively ascertained, based on preliminary investigations, there are two potential causes.

“These include unrestricted movement of people in and out of the farm, as well as non-compliance with biosecurity measures. It was reported that the owner had been feeding the pigs and piglets with leftover kitchen waste from the labourers’ camp of the Punatshangchhu II.”

“Despite repeated advocacy and awareness to the pig farmers to improve pig farm biosecurity, including better farm management and pig husbandry practices, manfarms where outbreaks occurred had poor farm biosecurity,” a health official said.

The meat vans plying through the Tsirang-Wangdue-Gasa highways are asked to strictly avoid stopping at the areas of outbreaks to prevent contamination and spread of the virus to other areas.

Any person found not adhering to the public notification, the notice warns, shall be dealt in accordance with the laws.

Starting today, the dzongkhag, along with concerned stakeholders, has decided to implement stringent measures as per the National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Plan 2021 (NASFPCP 2021) to prevent further spread of the disease.

An expert disease investigation team from NCAH will conduct the detailed investigation today to trace the source of the outbreak and do risk assessment.

In Wangdue there are 53 commercial, semi-commercial and subsistence farms with a swine population of more than 1,000.