Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Swine fever outbreak hits Masaka
Sunday, 12th June, 2011
By DISMUS BUREGYEYA
SWINE fever has broken out in Masaka district, forcing authorities to quarantine the district to restrict the movement of pigs and their products.
The most affected sub-counties are Kyanamukaka, Kabonera, Mukungwe, Bukakata, Buwunga and Nyendo-Ssenyange in Masaka municipality.
The district veterinary officer, Dr. Lawrence Mayega, said at least 1,000 pigs have died so far since the disease broke out and urged residents to respect the quarantine to avoid further spread of the disease.
?It is an offence to abuse the quarantine. We have received reports that some businessmen smuggle pigs out of the quarantine zones. The culprits will be arrested and prosecuted,? he said.
Mayega advised farmers to use disinfectants to control the spread of the swine fever virus.
A team from the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme and other stakeholders have started assessing the impact of the disease to food security.
?The outbreak is a big blow to the progress of the NAADS programme. We spent money raising the pigs, but farmers have to switch to other enterprises after making big losses,? the NAADS coordinator for Mukungwe, Vicky Nalukwago, said.
Meanwhile, NAADS beneficiaries in the district have asked security agencies to step up their operations to help them curb the theft of their animals and poultry.
The district internal security officer, Capt. George William Mayanja, said the district security committee had agreed to increase road security checks to counter thefts.
Mayanja advised farmers to paint their poultry and put tags on animals to safeguard them from thieves.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/19/757283
Sunday, 12th June, 2011
By DISMUS BUREGYEYA
SWINE fever has broken out in Masaka district, forcing authorities to quarantine the district to restrict the movement of pigs and their products.
The most affected sub-counties are Kyanamukaka, Kabonera, Mukungwe, Bukakata, Buwunga and Nyendo-Ssenyange in Masaka municipality.
The district veterinary officer, Dr. Lawrence Mayega, said at least 1,000 pigs have died so far since the disease broke out and urged residents to respect the quarantine to avoid further spread of the disease.
?It is an offence to abuse the quarantine. We have received reports that some businessmen smuggle pigs out of the quarantine zones. The culprits will be arrested and prosecuted,? he said.
Mayega advised farmers to use disinfectants to control the spread of the swine fever virus.
A team from the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme and other stakeholders have started assessing the impact of the disease to food security.
?The outbreak is a big blow to the progress of the NAADS programme. We spent money raising the pigs, but farmers have to switch to other enterprises after making big losses,? the NAADS coordinator for Mukungwe, Vicky Nalukwago, said.
Meanwhile, NAADS beneficiaries in the district have asked security agencies to step up their operations to help them curb the theft of their animals and poultry.
The district internal security officer, Capt. George William Mayanja, said the district security committee had agreed to increase road security checks to counter thefts.
Mayanja advised farmers to paint their poultry and put tags on animals to safeguard them from thieves.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/19/757283