April 9, 2024
ASF detected in western Rwanda
African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in Rusizi district, western Rwanda, with 82 swine dead due to the disease according to officials, The New Times reported.
ASF was first detected in Rwanda in 2021, with the first reported case occurring in Muyumbu sector, Rwamagana district, where a farmer lost 32 swine valued around RWF 20 million (US$15,500).
Oscar Niyonsansaba, a livestock officer in the Rusizi district, said the latest outbreak affected 10 farmers, resulting in the immediate death of all infected swine.
The impact of ASF has spread across multiple sectors within Rusizi district, including Kamembe, Gihundwe, Nzahaha, Bugarama, Nkombo, and Gitambi, affecting a substantial swine population of 51,629.
In response to the outbreak, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB) has issued strict measures, mandating farmers to confine their swine within sheds and halting the transportation and sale of swine in Rusizi district until further notice.
Farmers are instructed to notify veterinarians upon observing any symptoms of the disease, which include fever, loss of appetite, difficulty walking, shivering, and discoloration of various body parts.
RAB emphasised the prohibition of slaughtering sick or deceased swine and encouraged farmers to consider livestock insurance as a precautionary measure.
- The New Times
