Residents Defy Ban On Pork In Uganda

Residents Defy Ban On Pork In Uganda - 15 December 2011 08:35:11 GMT

Residents of Adjumani District in Uganada have ignored health warnings about the risks associated with eating pork from pigs killed by African swine fever. According to AllAfrica.com, although the veterinary department placed a quarantine on pigs, the animals killed by swine fever has risen from 60 to 120, in just two weeks. Security operatives and officials from the production department have arrested two residents of Patua Village for exhuming carcass of pigs for consumption. The suspects were caught smoking the carcass along with two of their colleagues who are still at large. The District Police Commander, Mr Fredrick Segirinya, said the suspects would be charged with malicious spread of disease. "We shall continue arresting those who will disobey the quarantine because we want to bring the rapid spread of the disease under control," he said. The District Veterinary Officer, Dr Williams Guma, said African swine fever was first reported in Ofua Sub-county but it has now spread to Pakelle Sub-county and Adjumani Town Council. He attributes the spread to defiance of the quarantine. "Most pig farmers don't want to make losses, as a result they smoke the pigs carcasses for sale cheaply instead of burying it one and half metres deep. This is very dangerous," he said. Ms Monica Itudria, who lost four pigs in a week to swine fever, said some farmers are deliberately spreading the disease by disposing carcass of the pigs openly. http://www.poultex.com/news.asp?article=11404