Dignitaries with participants of seminar on prevention & remedies of African Swine Fever at Pfutsero on October 28.
CYF organises seminar on prevention & remedies of African Swine Fever
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 28
The Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) in collaboration with State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) today conducted one day seminar on “Rural Economic Self Reliance” and “Prevention & Remedies of African Swine Fever (ASF) & Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)” at Pfutsero in Phek district.
Dr Rosou Pohena, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Veterinary Dispensary, Pfutsero emphasised on the collective effort from the village level to check the spread of viral disease like ASF and LSD. He said that ASF is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages.
The morbidity rate of ASF can approach 100% in naïve herds of domesticated pigs, he said adding that cumulative mortality depends on the virulence of the isolate and can range from 5% to 100%.
Humans do not get sick from African swine fever; however, meat contaminated with the ASF virus should not be used to feed pigs, as they can get infected this way,the Veterinarian underscored.
“It is therefore recommended to avoid feeding pigs with food scraps or kitchen waste that have not been properly treated,” he added.
‘No treatment for ASF’
Pohena said that there is no treatment for ASF. While the Vietnam's National Veterinary Joint Stock Company developed the vaccine based on an ASF virus strain engineered by the US Agricultural Research Service, the vaccine has not been scaled to a commercial level of production and supply.
Hence, currently there is no effective vaccine against ASF. The only way to stop this disease is to depopulate all affected or exposed swine herds, he said.
He stated that Biosecurity is the most important and effective measure available to prevent and control ASF.
Rigorous and continuous implementation of biosecurity at farm level, as well as increasing vigilance at borders to prevent the illegal movement of ASF-infected animals or commodities, can halt the virus from entering pig herds, he said.
CYF President Vezhodüyi Nakro said that backyard piggery farming in the villages place one of the most important role in the progress of rural economy for the Chakhesang community.
He said the ban on import of pig within Chakhesang jurisdiction by Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) and implemented by CYF had strengthened the rural economy of the Chakhesang community.
Shevohü Khamo also shared experience of pig rearing since 1997. The seminar was moderated by CYF Vice President Nyitso Therie and CYF Finance Secretary Kevesa Khamo.
