November 9, 2004

Pig Deaths in Papua New Guinea May Be Due to Swine Fever

Up to 3,000 pigs in Papua New Guinea may have been killed by a viral disease.

Classical swine fever was suspected to be the culprit, but tests have been inconclusive, according to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

Surveillance work has been hampered by a lack of testing facilities, as well as PNG's remote and rugged geography.

AQIS vet Dr John Curran says this shows they need to work with their Asian neighbours in order to improve the reporting of exotic animal diseases.

"It's frustrating that there was a four-month time frame, in one instance, before one of the councilors in the village wrote a letter about the large number of pigs that had died in their village.

"It's just all too late.

"And we need to work to try and develop some sort of better communication system with the PNG quarantine and agricultural officials over there.

"Things like going back to maybe trying to improve their HF radio systems, and getting some more extension material out about the importance of disease reporting."