A recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Damongo, the capital of the Savannah Region, has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of pigs, leaving many farmers reeling from the devastating impact. The affected communities include Canteen, Attributu, Boroto, and Sori Number One, among others.
In a desperate bid to curb the spread of the disease, some farmers have resorted to slaughtering and burying sick pigs, as well as properly disposing of those that have already succumbed to the disease.
Despite pork being a popular delicacy both locally and internationally, the outbreak has significantly impacted pig farmers, many of whom are still recovering from a previous outbreak in 2023.
The outbreaks have taken a heavy toll on farmers, with many lamenting the devastating impact on their businesses.
“In the last outbreak, I lost about 30 fully grown pigs. As if that weren’t enough, all my newly farrowed piglets, around 40 in total, also died. Now, I don’t know how to prevent this from happening again because the 4 pigs I recently bought have all died just last week,” Amatus Azuri, a pig farmer, recounted his harrowing experience.
Another farmer, Agnes Beyuo, expressed her frustration, stating, “Business is about profit, and sometimes you have to endure losses. But if this disease keeps hitting us without any relief, I might take a 5-year break and observe the industry before deciding my next step.”
Dr. Enouch Sarkodie-Addo, the West Gonja Municipal Director of Veterinary Services, confirmed that the outbreak was due to African Swine Fever. He emphasized the need for pig farmers to adopt biosecurity measures and shift towards intensive farming rather than the semi-intensive system widely practiced in the affected areas.
“The best solution is strict biosecurity and intensive farming because, unfortunately, there are no vaccines available for ASF yet, although research is ongoing,” Dr. Sarkodie-Addo advised.
He explained that affected pigs typically exhibit erythema (reddening of the skin), a symptom that was not very prominent in the previous outbreak.
Dr. Sarkodie-Addo further noted, “One major indicator of ASF is the sudden and unexpected death of seemingly healthy animals. When pigs fail to respond to generic treatment and start dying suddenly, it raises serious concerns.”
