By Ling Hui
KUCHING, March 11: A recent African Swine Fever (ASF) screening at Sibu abattoir has found that five out of six pigs have tested positive for the deadly viral disease.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting said that was the reason behind the 60-day abattoir closure since March 9.
“So we reported that (the screening results) to the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS).
“Because the (infected) pigs we had cannot be slaughtered anymore; they must be put down and buried. Then, we had a meeting at 2pm on Tuesday (March 8).
“Following the meeting, they (DVSS officers) said the abattoir is to be closed down starting March 9 and the last slaughter (of healthy pigs)is to be done on March 9, in the morning,” he told DayakDaily today.
Meanwhile, Ting said, SMC is concentrating on washing, cleaning and sanitising the entire abattoir including pig pens, slaughtering and sewage treatment areas according to recommendations by DVSS.
This is to ensure the reopening of the Sibu abattoir as soon as possible so that the local pig farming industry can resume operations. — DayakDaily
