By Emmanuel Omona PaOkech

Following the suspected outbreak of African swine fever , the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and fisheries has imposed a  quarantine on the movement of pigs, pig products and byproducts within and outside Nebbi district.

The outbreak of African swine fever is reported in Parombo, Erussi, Kucwiny, and  Ndhew sub-counties.

Jacqueline Opar, Nebbi district secretary for production and natural resources has restricted the movement of pigs in the district.

Opar also appealed to farmers and the general public to report any suspected cases of African swine fever to the nearest veterinary staff.

Swine fever is  highly contagious and caused by the African swine fever virus.

The virus causes a hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in pigs, but persistently infects its natural hosts, warthogs, and bushpigs.

African Swine Fever Virus is a large, double-stranded DNA virus which replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells, and is the only member of the Asfarviridae family.

The disease can be controlled by slaughtering and burying carcass the infected pigs.