PRRS Disease Reported in Naypyitaw Pig Farms

MYANMAR - An outbreak of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) was reported in Naypyitaw in early April, according to the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department.

27 April 2011

3 minute read

Asia

The Naypyitaw District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department is educating the public about the disease which causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in pigs.

On 7 April, 100 pigs out of a total of more than 300 pigs at two pig farms in Pobba Thiri and Zabu Thiri townships in Naypyidaw were infected with the disease. Ten pigs died. On 11 April, the pigs were diagnosed with PRRS. Authorities say there is no treatment for the disease and no prophylactic.

There are an estimated 100,000 pigs in Naypyitaw, according to the Health Department.

Similarly, in March the disease was reported in Aungmyetharsan, Chanayetharsan, Mahaaungmye, Chanmyatharsi, Pyigyitagun, Amarapura and Madaya in the Mandalay Region where more than 1,000 pigs died of the disease.

Dr Tun Myint Soe, the deputy head of the Amarapura Township Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, told Mizzima that currently there is no PRRS in Amarapura.

“There is no spreading of PRRS in Amarapura. The spread of PRRS was stopped by the intense heat," he said.

A veterinarian in Pyigyitagun Township told Mizzima that the disease is still spreading in small pig farms in some townships including Myitnge, Sintkai, Myinchan, and Pyinoolwin in Mandalay Region.

"At first, the disease was spread among small farms in urban areas," he said. "Later, the weather was colder. Now the new outbreak has occurred in suburban areas. The death rate is high."

In early April, the Mandalay Division Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department distributed insecticide and disinfectant to large pig farms and small scale domestic pig owners free of charge and provided bio-technology control methods during field trips to inspect farms.

The disease was first reported on 15 February in the Mandalay area.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) earlier issued an emergency warning in Burma on the spread of PRRS.

PRRS disease doesn’t usually infect humans, and people in Mandalay have not stopped eating pork, according to a resident.

“We know that if the meat is thoroughly cooked, we cannot be infected by the disease," he said. "As far as I know, most people in Mandalay are still eating pork."