Lagos, veterinary institute work to prevent Swine Fever

IKEJA, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government in collaboration with the National Veterinary Research Institute is to undertake a participatory rural appraisal and collection of farmers perception on pig phenotype with a view to determining the prevalence or otherwise of African Swine Fever (ASF) among pigs in Lagos State.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Olayiwole Onasanya who disclosed this in Lagos today explained that the research would also enable the State Government institute control measure as well as develop vaccine for the disease bearing in mind the economic importance of the African swine fever disease to pig farmers in the State.

He noted that the research would involve holding meetings with stakeholders in the piggery value chains in order to collect data on the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in farms and other places where pigs are kept or processed as well as collect samples from pig farms, abattoirs and slaughter slabs in the State.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the research will also involve carrying out investigation of current and old suspected outbreaks of ASF in pigs farms in the State and other relevant activities that will enable the success of the research project.

Dr Onasanya reiterated the State Government’s commitment towards ensuring a Swine Free State in the piggery value chain across the State adding that the Lagos State Government would not stop in doing anything that would ensure that Lagosians consume healthy pig in the State.

He recalled that there was an outbreak of the African Swine Fever in the State some five years ago which resulted in economic loss for many pig farmers adding that the State Government is determined to ensure the total eradication of the disease in the State.

He added that part the measures put in place by the State Government then were the massive decontamination of the pig farms affected and very strong fumigation of pig farms across the State stressing that since then there have been no reports of the outbreak in the State.