Malawian pork banned

Maputo, 17 Mar (AIM) – The Mozambican livestock authorities have banned the sale of pork from Malawi after an outbreak of swine fever was reported in the neighboring country.

The measure also prohibits the movement of pigs between the two countries, which normally occurs through the Tete border crossing, in southern Malawi.

According to Cláudio Gune, head of the Livestock Department in the Tete Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries, the measure is aimed at interrupting a possible chain of contamination of swine fever, considered highly contagious and lethal to pigs.

“The decision was taken as part of the preventive actions undertaken by the agricultural sector to protect the livestock of the province, especially in border areas where there is intense circulation of people and goods,” Gune said.

The disease, he said, was recorded in several Malawian districts which means that “the population must avoid buying animals from Malawi, given the occurrence of the disease.”

“Likewise, the entry and exit of pork and its derivatives between the two countries is temporarily prohibited, a measure that will remain in effect until the health situation is fully under control,” Gune said.

Nevertheless, he explained, Tete province has so far not registered any cases of the disease, which reinforces the need to maintain close surveillance.

“We will avoid moving animals suspected of having the disease from one place to another; this is a control measure,” he added.

“Awareness campaigns are underway among breeders to prevent the purchase or illegal transport of pigs from Malawi”, he added.

Swine fever, which spreads via direct contact, affects domestic and wild pigs, often causing 100 percent mortality.
(AIM)
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