Pig farms in Mawlamyine, Mon state, are experiencing a rise in swine deaths due to a virus that is believed to have been introduced from pigs that were illegally imported from Thailand.
Symptoms of infection include their sudden collapse, an inability to get up after a fall, loss of appetite, and eventually death from nosebleeds.
“This is also happening in Thailand. If the pigs become infected, they will often die, and we do not yet know what the virus is exactly,” said a member of the State Livestock Working Group.
In Mawlamyine Township, there are only 27 pig farms left as many others have ceased operations. The infections have been found amongst pig farms in Thaton, Kyaikto and Mudon townships. Across the State there are only 60 livestock farms raising chickens, pigs and ducks.
There are more than 200,000 pigs in Mon State and almost 70,000 pigs in Mawlamyine Township.
The total number of pigs lost to the virus in Mawlamyine Township has not yet been tallied, according to a representative from the Livestock Working Group.
Pig farmers do not know how to prevent or protect their animals from this virus.
“I do not have it on my farm yet. I do not know where to turn for prevention information. It also spreads very fast. Once you have one case, the whole yard quickly becomes infected,” said one pig farmer.
He added that the relevant departments need to conduct field inspections of livestock farms.
