African Swine Fever outbreak confirmed in Central Region

The Central Regional Veterinary Services Department has placed a ban on the movement of pigs and piggery products in the region following an outbreak of African Swine Fever in the region.

The Central Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Oppong told Graphic Online the police have in accordance ordered all check points to enforce the ban.

"As a security institution the regional command has given an immediate directive that all policemen at the various security points and on snap check duties to ensure they enforce the ban," she said.

She said the police was working on broader and detailed operational orders to ensure the ban was effectively enforced in the region.

African Swine Fan is a highly contagious and fatal disease of domestic pigs. It most commonly appears in the acute form as a haemorrhagic fever. Mortality is usually close to 100 percent and pigs of all ages are affected, according to the FAO. 

And according to the European Commission, ASF is a devastating infectious disease of pigs, which is usually deadly but with no existing vaccine to combat the virus. While it does not affect humans or other animal species other than pigs and wild boars, it can be transmitted either via direct animal contact or via dissemination of contaminated food (e.g. sausages or uncooked meat).

Source: GRAPHIC
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