March 22, 2011

PRRS kills more than 500 pigs in Myanmar's Mandalay

More than 500 pigs have died of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) disease in Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, according to local reports on Monday (Mar 21).

The PRRS disease is also known as blue ear disease occurring with pig for the first time in Myanmar recently.

The 500 pigs were among the 2,000 bred in 200 poultry farms in five townships in Mandalay, local news stated.

So far, the disease, detected from the dead pigs, has not spread to other animals or human but infect other pigs, it said.

Veterinary surgeons are exploring the cause of the disease, the report added.

The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) has warned the public to take bio-security measures and report to the authorities on suspected death of livestocks.

Meanwhile, avian influenza (H5N1) struck Sittway, western Rakhine state and Tantsle township, northwestern Sagaing region in the first two months of this year respectively and thousands of chickens, suspected of carrying virulent avian influenza, were wiped out following the discovery of their unusual death.

Myanmar was first struck by bird flu H5N1 in 2006.