African swine fever spreads rapidly in PNG

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, April 24, 2020
Adjust font size:

SYDNEY, April 24 (Xinhua) -- African Swine Fever (ASF) has spread rapidly throughout Papua New Guinea (PNG) after being officially recorded in the country late last month.

Local newspaper, the Post Courier reported on Friday that there had been significant outbreaks in the Southern, Hela and Enga provinces.

The disease, not affecting humans but deadly in pigs, has been causing severe disruptions for the pork industries in some Asian countries in the past months.

PNG's National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) banned the export of pigs and pork products from the three affected provinces, and local farmers are calling for more action on the issue.

"We lost about 10-20 pigs a day in each village since the disease was first discovered," local pig farmer Jill Jackson told the Post Courier.

"We need relevant authorities like NAQIA and others to conduct more awareness on this issue thus and on how and what they can do to help counter the spread of this African swine fever."

Pigs are a valuable commodity, particularly in PNG's highland provinces, and the coinciding with new COVID-19 cases creates additional problems for the communities. Enditem

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter