African swine fever claims 38 pigs in Kailali

Kailali: An outbreak of African swine fever has resulted in the death of 38 pigs in Ghodaghodi Municipality-9, Kailali. The affected pigs were raised by local farmer Pradeshu Chaudhary.

Manoj Acharya, an Animal Health Technician with Ghodaghodi Municipality, confirmed the presence of African swine fever following tests conducted after the initial deaths. According to Acharya, the disease was confirmed on the 18th of this month through tests at the Animal Disease Research Laboratory in Dhangadhi. Further confirmation was obtained via PCR testing at the Central Animal Disease Research Laboratory in Tripureshwor.

The fatalities at Chaudhary's farm include 32 piglets, five female pigs, and one male pig. Kailali and Kanchanpur districts in the Far West are reported to be at high risk of African swine fever. The disease first appeared in the region in Kartik 2079 BS, when it claimed 482 pigs from a farm owned by Jay Budha in Bhajani, Kailali. Since then, outbreaks have been recurring in Kailali, Kanchanpur, and other districts.

African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs and boars. Symptoms include high fevers ranging from 104°F to 107°F, reddening of the outer skin of the ears, tail, and lower abdomen, blue spots on the body, loss of appetite, drooling, staggering, and eventual death.

Acharya noted that the disease can spread through contact with infected mosquitoes and via contaminated equipment used in the transport of pigs. Local authorities are urging farmers to adopt preventive measures to mitigate further losses.