January 2, 2024

Illegal pork consignment suspected to be cause of ASF spread in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's biosecurity surveillance is under question since African swine fever (ASF) is suspected to have entered the country through an unlawful consignment imported into the country during the time of the previous government in 2023.

ASF has already killed entered the wild, raising concerns that the country's entire wild boar population will be wiped out. Currently, wildlife health authorities find it difficult to contain the spread of virus, both in protected and unprotected areas.

The Department of Animal Production and Health previously reported to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation that ASF could have arrived with food wastes from aircraft and ships that arrived in Sri Lanka's seaports and airports from the infected countries.

However, it is now suspected whether the virus spreads into the country from an unlawful consignment of pork products that was not immediately repatriated to the place of origin.

A ministry official said it will appoint a committee of experts to ascertain the veracity of this suspicion.

Asked how the pork industry will be revived, the official said Sri Lanka's domestic swine population and pork products should be dispensed with first to make sure that the country is free of ASF.

"We have a parent stock of animals now remaining," the official said. "If we lose them, we can import them. There are international organisations willing to help us."

- Daily Mirror Online