The African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in North Sumatra, Indonesia, in the past few months has worsened, spreading to 18 regencies and cities across the province.
Jakarta (VNA) – TheAfrican swine fever (ASF) outbreak in North Sumatra, Indonesia, in the past fewmonths has worsened, spreading to 18 regencies and cities across the province.
According to the latest data from the North Sumatra Food Security and LivestockAgency, as many as 42,000 pigs were killed, with the majority of 27,000 pigsdying in the three months from September until December last year.
Head of the agency Muhaimin said the virus had also spread to two moreregencies in addition to 16 affected in December, namely Batubara andMandailing Natal.
The other 16 regencies and municipalities affected by the virus are Dairi, DeliSerdang, Humbang Hasundutan, Karo, Langkat, Medan, Pakpak Bharat, PematangSiantar, Samosir, Serdang Bedagai, Simalungun, Tapanuli Selatan, TapanuliTengah, Tapanuli Utara, Tebing Tinggi and Toba Samosir.
Medan Veterinary Association head Agustia expressed her concern that the viruswould spread even further if it was not handled properly. She said the ASFcould attack pig livestock very quickly, and if it is not addressedimmediately, it can spread to other regions.
Currently, 15 regencies and cities in the province were still unaffected by thedisease, she added.
NorthSumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi said the local authority was keeping a close eyeon livestock movements to ensure that the disease did not spread to otherprovinces./.
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