News coming from the Western Region indicates the National Veterinary Laboratory has confirmed an outbreak of Africa Swine Fever (ASF) in some districts in the region.
The outbreak has however raised fears of a possible threat to the government’s Rearing for Food and Jobs programme in the region.
Under the Rearing for Food and Jobs, the government allocated pigs to the Western Region, which according to the Regional Directorator of Agriculture, S.Y Apiiga would be a problem since it would take a long time to eradicate the disease in the Region.
In a letter written to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, S.Y Apiiga is appealing for the replacement of the pigs with sheep and goats.
Head of the Takoradi Veterinary laboratory Dr. Theophilus Odoom has confirmed the media Fifty six pigs have died from the disease.
Though the ASF virus causes a hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in domestic pigs, Dr Odoom stated pork lovers in the Region can continue enjoying their pork because ASF is not a threat to human health.
Below is the full test of the letter
Source: ritefmonline.org
