African swine fever outbreak in Damongo kills hundreds of pigs

A recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) has left hundreds of pigs dead, devastating pig farmers in Damongo.

According to reports, the affected communities include Canteen, Attributu, Boroto, and Sori Number One, among others. Farmers have resorted to desperate measures to curb the spread of the disease, including slaughtering and burying sick pigs.

“In the last outbreak, I lost about thirty fully grown pigs. As if that wasn’t enough, all my newly farrowed piglets, around forty in total, also died.” – Amatus Azuri, Pig Farmer

Another farmer, Agnes Beyuo, expressed her frustration, stating, “Business is about profit, and sometimes you have to endure losses. But if this disease keeps hitting us without any relief, I might take a five-year break and observe the industry before deciding my next step.”

Dr. Enouch Sarkodie-Addo, West Gonja Municipal Director of Veterinary Services, confirmed that the outbreak was due to ASF. He emphasized the need for pig farmers to adopt biosecurity measures and shift towards intensive farming.

“The best solution is strict biosecurity and intensive farming because, unfortunately, there are no vaccines available for ASF yet, although research is ongoing.” – Dr. Enouch Sarkodie-Addo

Dr. Sarkodie-Addo further noted, “One major indicator of ASF is the sudden and unexpected death of seemingly healthy animals. When pigs fail to respond to generic treatment and start dying suddenly, it raises serious concerns.”

African Swine Fever is a highly contagious and deadly disease affecting pigs. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, ASF has been reported in several countries, including Ghana, where it has had a significant impact on pig farming.