Swine Fever Reported in Kasese.Drive Hot News

There is a reported outbreak of the African swine fever in Kasese district.

Dr. Godfrey Karule, the Kasese District Veterinary Officer says the disease was first reported in Kitholhu sub-county that neighbors the Democratic Republic of Congo in December last year.

He however, says that the disease is first spreading across the district. Karule says Mahango Sub County is most affected. According to Karule, he is waiting for reports from sub-county veterinary officers to establish the number of pigs that have succumbed to the disease since December.

He explains initially they thought the disease was spread by poachers who raid Queen Elizabeth National park and take home wild pig meat but discovered that it was transmitted to pigs by soft ticks.

There is no known cure for an infected animal. The disease can be contained by spraying the pigs. Dr. Karule says the district veterinary office is handicapped due to lack of budgetary allocation for the sensitizing farmers on preventive measures.

Stephen Muthekengwa, the Mahango sub-county LC 3 chairperson accuses some people masquerading as veterinary officers for fueling the spread of the disease.

Muthekengwa whose sub-county has lost over 200 pigs in the last one month says private veterinary service providers have been injecting more than one pig using a single syringe, which he says may escalate infection.

He appeals for the intervention of the district veterinary office to sensitize farmers and help contain the spread of the disease.  According to Muthekengwa, his sub county lacks a veterinary officer to take care of the situation.

Dr. Yusuf Kibaya, the Kasese Municipality veterinary officer warns the farmers against eating infected and dead picks saying they may pass the disease to humans.

The price of pork has dropped from UGX 6000 to UGX 3000 in the villages and  UGX 4000 in urban centers.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease which affects pigs and warthogs. It presents with high fever, loss of appetite, Hemorrhages in the skin and internal organs.

Infected animals died between 2-10 days on average. The mortality rate may be as high as 100%.