September 23, 2010

Over 1,000 pigs die of possible blue-ear disease in Cambodia

More than 1,000 pigs have died of suspected blue-ear disease in the Cambodian Village TaKhom Thma, Thmor Pouk district of Banteay Mean Chey province, the village chief and villagers said on Tuesday (Sep 21).

Village chief Kol Mon said the dead pigs have marks with blue and pink on their skins but the health officials in the village could not identify it yet. He added that the pigs have been infected with a kind of diseases since August.

A villager, Soeung Tuy said that pigs subsequently have died of the syndromes.

Pov Srun, head of pig famers' association of Cambodia said that he had not known about the cases. He said investigations will be carried out soon, noting that blue-ear disease has been "silent" for a while.

Currently, Cambodia imports about 1,000 pigs daily to supply local consumers. The transport of pigs could be a key factor to spread blue ear disease. Thailand and Vietnam are two neighbouring countries infecting blue-ear disease.

Earlier in August, Prime Minister Hun Sen appealed to stop importing the pork and live pigs from the neighbouring countries to avoid further spread of illness.