August 5, 2010

Cambodia bans live pig imports amid PRRS fears

Cambodia has banned imports of live pigs owing to fears they may be infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday (Aug 4).

In a directive released Wednesday on the strengthening of pig disease control, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) said hundreds of pigs have been found dead of PRRS or blue ear disease in 10 out of the country's total 24 provinces and cities.

MAFF said the sample of blood test taken on 80 pigs showed that at least eight pigs were found positive with blue ear disease and another eight were found with pest disease.

According to the directive, the blue ear disease is now affecting Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand and thus it advised all concerned authorities to take more precaution activities in order to stop the spread of the disease. It advised that concerned authorities to take more actions such as closely monitoring the transport of pigs from one place to another.

Meanwhile, Hun said that while new imports of pigs are to be taken immediately, pig sellers in the country shall not hike up their price.

Srun Pov, president of the Association of Pigs Raising in Cambodia said that until last week, about 1,000 pigs were illegally imported from Vietnam into Cambodia every day, and some of them were ill.

Srun said Cambodia needs a total of more than 4,000 pigs for daily consumption, and in Phnom Penh alone it needs between 1,200-1,300 pigs. The country needs to import more than 1,000 pigs a day to meet demand for pork, he added.