By Baraka John
The Western Equatoria State Ministry of Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism has raised alarm over a suspected outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), which has killed more than 8,000 pigs in Yambio and Nzara counties.
According to state authorities, at least 8,688 pigs have died in Yambio alone, affecting 22 households and causing significant losses for farmers whose livelihoods depend on pig farming.
Speaking to King Media on Wednesday, Samuel Zigizo, the State Minister for Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism, said the majority of the reported deaths have been recorded in Yambio, one of Western Equatoria State’s major pig-producing areas.
He described the losses as a major setback for farmers and expressed sympathy to the affected families.
The minister said veterinary officers have been deployed to areas reporting unusual pig deaths to investigate the cause and assess the extent of the outbreak.
He said findings from the investigations have been shared with the national Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and development partners supporting the response.
“We are facing serious challenges as farmers lose many animals to this suspected disease outbreak. Yambio and Nzara, which are major pig-producing areas, have been severely affected. In Yambio alone, our records show that about 8,688 pigs from 22 households have died. This is a huge loss, and we sympathize with the affected farmers. We currently have no medicines or vaccines to control the suspected African swine fever.” Minister Zigizo added, “For now, our main tool is awareness. We urge farmers to immediately isolate sick pigs from healthy ones to prevent the disease from spreading and causing more deaths.”
The state authorities and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have also deployed veterinary personnel to investigate the suspected disease.
Zigizo said the symptoms being reported suggest a possible viral disease, which could make treatment difficult because there is currently no specific vaccine available to control the suspected outbreak.
Zigizo said veterinary services may provide antibiotics to manage possible secondary bacterial infections, but stressed that antibiotics do not cure viral diseases.