Pigs infected with African swine fever are incinerated in Takeo province. FACEBOOK
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ Animal Health and Production General Directorate on June 3 destroyed 100 pigs seized from two slaughterhouses in the capital after they were found to be infected with African swine fever (ASF).
The directorate director-general, Tan Phanara, told The Post while the pigs were being incinerated in the Takmao mountain area in Takeo province that the animals were smuggled from Thailand but the authorities could not stop them until they reached the two slaughterhouses in Phnom Penh.
Specialists raided the two slaughterhouses last week.
“We received information on the illegally imported pigs on the border. But we could not take action immediately. When they arrived at the slaughterhouses, we moved in and shut them down,” he said.
Phanara added that the directorate would bring the importers for prosecution while continuing to search for other suspects involved in the smuggling operation.
“So far, we have not yet detained anyone. But we impounded vehicles as evidence,” he said.
So far this year, the directorate has destroyed a total of 270 illegally imported infected pigs, Phanara added.
Cambodia Pig Farmers Association chairman Srun Pov blamed border police for being negligent and allowing infected pigs to be imported to Phnom Penh.
“If the directorate does not enforce the law, African swine fever will enter Cambodia. I fear that other illegal imports could cause an outbreak of the disease which would be detrimental to the nation’s economy,” he said.
He added that ASF is the most dangerous infection for pigs and there is no vaccine against it. If the disease spreads to domestic pigs, it will be rapidly spread by flies and lice from infected animals, he said.
“Border police need to tighten inspection methods because when infected animals enter the country we do not know how many places they will pass through. Infected animals are a serious threat to local farmers,” Pov said.
In 2019, Cambodia experienced an outbreak of ASF causing a shortage of pig products. Thousands of infected domestic infected pigs had to be destroyed, according to the ministry.
