July 6, 2010

Areas in Thailand designated as PRRS epidemic zones

The Department of Livestock Development in Thailand's Nong Khai province has designated three districts as "Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome epidemic zones".

More than 700 pigs have fallen ill, and 50 pigs have died in three districts of Nong Khai province, including Ta Bor, Sri Chiang Mai and Po Tak districts.

Agricultural officials conducted autopsies on the dead pigs and concluded that the pigs had contracted Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a virus commonly found in pigs.

The virus spreads through the reproduction and respiratory systems. However, it cannot be transmitted to humans.

Livestock officials in Nong Khai have designated the three virus-infected districts as PRRS epidemic zones, to prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the province.

Antibiotic drugs will be administered to the ill pigs and the farms will be disinfected. If more pigs are discovered to have the virus, they will be quarantined immediately.

Livestock officers in Buriram province have also visited pig farms to advise farmers on better hygiene and farm management. They have also given the farmers disinfectants and urged pig farmers to urgently report any symptoms of illness in the pigs to the department, so that inspection can be done quickly, to prevent the spread of the disease. Farmers were also advised to not consume the sick pigs as the disease can cause fatalities, said the local officers.

Meanwhile in Nakhon Pranom province, the Livestock Development Department has coordinated with local organisations to expedite inspections in slaughterhouses and meat vendors. Nakhon Phanom is another province where pigs are reported to be attacked by PRRS as it is located beside the infected Nong Khai province.