Lab tests confirm African Swine Flu in Jaman North District

Lab tests have confirmed that the African swine fever caused the deaths of pig herds in a border community in the Jaman North District in the Bono Region.

At least 200 pigs have so far been killed as a multi-agency body takes steps to ensure the highly contagious disease does not spread further, officials say.

District Veteranarian Idris Yahaya confirmed the development to dailymailgh.com.

“Pigs were dying in large numbers in that particular community so we started our investigations. We took samples there and sent to Accra lab. So it returned from the lab that it was African swine flu as we suspected.

“We had a total of 150 that died at once, they were dying in threes and tens. So when we realized we had a suspected case we also saw some fifty others showing similar symptoms and so we were able to get rid of them,” said Idris Yahaya.

Mr Yahaya is also urging farmers to report any suspected cases for further action.

“We have intensified the control measures to ensure that animals like pigs will not move from our district to another [country]; because we share an international boundary with the Ivory Coast. So we have entreated the farmers to adopt biosecurity measures and also restrict the entry and exit of animals and humans that might come and take the virus to other destinations,” he added.

Earlier in August recorded an outbreak of African swine fever in some parts of the country, particularly in the capital Accra.

Farmers in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality, said over 500 pigs had succumbed to the outbreak in their enclave alone.

Pig production is a booming industry in Ghana as pork consumption is on the rise in the country and more people have taken to pig farming to serve the growing demand for pork.

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH