Latest news with #PenangVeterinaryServicesDepartment


The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
African Swine Fever hits another Tasik Gelugor pig farm
KEPALA BATAS: The Penang Veterinary Services Department has confirmed that another pig farm in Kampung Selamat, Tasek Gelugor has been infected with African Swine Fever (ASF), bringing the total number of infected farms in the area to four. Its director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said the confirmation was made based on lab test results conducted by the department but assured that the ASF outbreak in the area remains under control. "We actively conducting further investigations and collecting additional samples from the relevant farms. So far, the spread of the disease is under control, with only one more farm having tested positive. "Other farms in Kampung Selamat and the districts of Seberang Perai Selatan and Barat Daya are still free from ASF and there hasn't been a significant increase in the number of infected pigs," she told reporters at the state-level Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day opening ceremony on Sunday (July 27). The event held at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute here was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. Saira Banu said 1,083 pigs have been culled at two of the four infected farms, with all carcasses buried on the farmers' lands. Culling for the remaining two farms will begin on Monday. Based on the department's inspections, many of the pigs have already died. "The culling process is being carried out according to the prescribed procedures on the farmers' lands, certified as suitable by the department. "Disposal for the remaining two farms will be carried out on government-owned land in Seberang Perai Utara, with permission from Tenaga Nasional Berhad. However, we have to proceed with caution as the area is quite risky," she said. She also advised pig traders and farmers not to share transport lorries to slaughterhouses, as this could cause cross-contamination and further spread of ASF. "We haven't calculated the estimated losses. But once a farm is confirmed positive, all livestock must be culled. The total pig population across the four infected farms is about 6,000," she added. Previously, the media reported that three pig farms in Kampung Selamat have been affected by ASF, based on laboratory results from the northern zone veterinary laboratory. Two of the three farms showed high mortality rates, raising concerns about the potential spread of ASF to nearby farms. - Bernama


The Sun
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Penang JPV tests pig samples for African swine fever detection
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Veterinary Services Department (JPVPP) is intensifying efforts to detect African swine fever (ASF) by conducting investigations and further sampling at pig farms across the state. State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye confirmed that three farms in Kampung Selamat, Tasek Gelugor, remain ASF-positive, while others are still under investigation. 'A total of 13 pig samples from slaughterhouses in North Seberang Perai (SPU), four from South Seberang Perai (SPS), and one from Southwest tested positive for ASF. However, farm-level confirmation is pending for most cases,' H'ng told Bernama. So far, 822 pigs have been culled from two of the three confirmed ASF-positive farms. JPVPP continues to monitor the situation and collaborate with agencies to prevent further spread. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the state is identifying alternative disposal sites for infected carcasses as a precaution. 'The SPU District Office and JPVPP are working together to ensure safe disposal in compliance with environmental guidelines,' he said. ASF is not zoonotic and poses no risk to human health or food safety. However, high mortality rates at two infected farms have raised concerns about wider transmission. – Bernama

Barnama
21-07-2025
- Health
- Barnama
Penang JPV Takes Pig Samples To Detect ASF
GEORGE TOWN, July 21 (Bernama) -- The Penang Veterinary Services Department (JPVPP) is actively conducting investigations and further sampling at pig farms to detect African swine fever (ASF) in the state. State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said so far, three farms in Kampung Selamat, Tasek Gelugor near here remain confirmed positive for ASF, while other farms are still under further investigation. "A total of 13 pig samples from slaughterhouses originating from farms in North Seberang Perai (SPU), four samples from South Seberang Perai (SPS) and one sample from Southwest were found to be positive for ASF at the slaughterhouse. "However, the positive status of ASF will only be confirmed when the test results from the farms confirm the presence of ASF and to date, three farms have remained confirmed positive for ASF at the farm level while the rest are still under further investigation," he said when contacted by Bernama today. He said a total of 822 pigs have been culled so far by JPVPP involving two of the three farms that were confirmed positive. H'ng said JPVPP is also actively conducting further investigations and sampling at the relevant farms and the number of positive farms is expected to increase after the laboratory results have been received. At the same time, he said efforts were being made to identify suitable disposal sites to ensure that the disposal process was carried out safely and in compliance with environmental guidelines. ASF is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot infect humans and does not endanger human health or affect food safety. This disease only affects the pig population," he said. He said JPVPP would also continue to monitor the situation continuously and work with all relevant agencies to immediately curb the spread of ASF.

Barnama
13-07-2025
- Health
- Barnama
JPVPP Intensifies Efforts To Contain ASF Spread In Tasek Gelugor
TASEK GELUGOR, July 13 (Bernama) -- The Penang Veterinary Services Department (JPVPP) has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been detected at three pig farms in Kampung Selamat here. JPVPP director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said ASF was first reported on July 7 after members of the public spotted pigs at a farm in Kampung Selamat showing clinical signs of the disease. She said the animals were later sent to a slaughterhouse in the Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) district, and the department immediately conducted inspections and collected samples from farms in the area. 'To date, 188 pigs have been culled and 45 carcasses disposed of at the first farm, while 70 pigs have died at the second farm from ASF-related complications. 'We have yet to enter the third farm, which is also infected, and I was informed that many pigs there have shown signs of illness,' she said when contacted today. Dr Saira Banu said all pig carcasses from the ASF-infected farms had been safely buried, with disposal works completed at the first and second farms. According to her, the number of farms confirmed to be infected with ASF remained at three, with no new farms reporting cases of infected pigs. 'We urge pig farmers to remain vigilant and to continue enforcing the restrictions and ban on the movement of pigs from positive farms to the designated slaughterhouses. 'The JPVPP is also stepping up biosecurity monitoring and control at surrounding farms, while additional sampling is ongoing at farms identified as at risk,' she said.


The Star
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Penang veterinary dept ensuring African Swine Fever outbreak contained
TASEK GELUGOR: The Penang Veterinary Services Department has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been detected at three pig farms in Kampung Selamat here. Its director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab (pic) said ASF was first reported on July 7 after pigs at a farm in Kampung Selamat showed signs of the disease. She said the animals were later sent to a slaughterhouse in the Seberang Prai Utara, and the department immediately conducted inspections and collected samples from farms in the area. "To date, 188 pigs have been culled and 45 carcasses disposed of at the first farm, while 70 pigs have died at the second farm from ASF-related complications. "We have yet to enter the third farm, which is also infected, and I was informed that many pigs there have shown signs of illness," she said when contacted on Sunday (July 13). Dr Saira Banu said all carcasses from the ASF-infected farms had been safely buried, with disposal works completed at the first and second farms. She said the number of farms confirmed to be infected with ASF remained at three, with no new farms reporting cases of infection. "We urge pig farmers to remain vigilant and to continue enforcing the restrictions and ban on the movement of pigs from positive farms to the designated slaughterhouses. "The department is also stepping up biosecurity monitoring and control at surrounding farms, while additional sampling is ongoing at farms identified as at risk," she said. It was reported that laboratory test results from the Northern Zone Veterinary Laboratory confirmed ASF infections at three pig farms in Kampung Selamat. Two of the three affected farms were reported to have recorded a high mortality rate among livestock, raising concerns over the possible spread of the disease to neighbouring farms. – Bernama