The Director General of the Animal Production and Health Department, Dr. Hemali Kotalawala, has announced a ban on the transportation of pigs between Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Sri Lanka due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). This is the first instance of the disease being reported in the country, prompting urgent action from health authorities.
The decision comes in response to several confirmed cases of ASF on farms across Sri Lanka, leading to the deaths of nearly a thousand pigs in recent days. The only region not affected by this outbreak is the Northern Province. In light of the situation, the department is preparing a gazette notification to formalize the transportation ban.
To mitigate the impact of the disease, vaccinations will be administered to pigs that have not yet contracted ASF. Mrs. Kotalawala emphasized that it is unsafe to consume the meat of pigs that have died from the viral infection, highlighting the serious health risks associated with ASF. The authorities are taking these measures to protect both livestock and public health as they work to contain the outbreak.
