JAYAPURA – Over 700 pigs in Nabire District – Papua were diagnosed positive with Classical Swine Fever (CSF) virus or commonly known as Hog Cholera. The virus was found in several sites in Meepago region, including Nabire, Paniai, Dogiyai and Deiyai districts.

Head of Papua Province Livestock and Animal Health Services, Petrus Pasereng, in Kotaraja – Jayapura on Monday (16/2) said the office received a report from local Livestock and Animal Health Services in Nabire District that 700 pigs were infected with CSF.

“This upsets the people in Nabire and also Papua because the virus could spread,” said Pasereng.

Pasereng explained that CSF is a very serious disease in pigs. The disease is acute and causes high morbidity and mortality because it affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory system.

The virus can be transmitted through direct and indirect contact. Poor hygiene and sanitation increases the risk of pigs being infected.

The virus can also be transmitted through feed, drinking water, contaminated tools, insect and other animals. Therefore Papua Province and Nabire District Livestock and Animal Health Services have isolated Nabire district for the next 6 to 8 months. An instruction was published by Nabire Regent which prohibits animal traffic in and out of the district.

Pasereng suspects the disease came through pork imported from Makassar and Manado. “We suspect the virus came in from Makassar and Manado in raw pork transported through the harbor in Samabusa – Nabire, which doesn’t have a quarantine station,” Pasereng admitted.

This has come to the attention of the office he leads because it is directly related with animal traffic control. Currently animal quarantine in Nabire is still under the animal quarantine agency based in Biak.

“I think it’s time Nabire has its own animal quarantine agency, separate from Biak district, so animal quarantine in Nabire can focus on controlling animal traffic in Nabire District,” he hopes.

Classical Swine Fever affects pigs of all age and type. Early symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, and fever (40 to 42 degrees Celcius). Conjunctivitis and lacrimation (more apparent in light colored pigs) can cause adhesion of eyelids and constipation is indicated by pellet-like feces.

Later symptoms include yellow grayish diarrhea, red discoloration on the skin and more fever. As the disease progresses, skin on the belly, ears, nose and instep turns dark gray. Signs of hemorrhage also appear all over the body.

Submaxillaris and throat lymphnodes will swell. Small hemorrhage spots will also appear on the kidneys, skin, throat, vocal cord, heart, intestinal lining and other parts of the body. Infarction and sores are also apparent in the large intestines of affected pigs.

Government services advice pig farmers in Papua to always maintain hygiene and sanitation in pens and provide the animals with good and healthy feed. Giving spoiled food to pigs should be avoided.

Source: Sinar Harapan