By PEARSON KOLO
MORE than 15 pigs in a community in the Baiyer River in the Western Highlands province have died mysteriously over the Christmas period sparking fear that it is the African Swine Fever.
Also several men from the affected area were reported sick after eating pork from one of the dead pigs.
The incident happened in the Wainda community of Baiyer and the people fear that the African swine fever has affected the pigs in the area.
Wainda community member Pawa Steven told The Sunday Bulletin that they fear their pigs have been exposed to the African Swine Fever (ASF).
“More than 15 pigs have died in our area within a week between the Christmas and New Year period and this is scaring the people.
“We had DPI officers in our area who conducted awareness on the African swine fever previously but they have not come back to inspect the dead pigs in our area,” Mr Steven said.
He said their councilors have travelled to Mt Hagen to inform the DPI officers who have not visited the area yet, as of last week.
“We fear we will lose more pigs and most of the people have relocated their pigs from the affected area. But surrounding communities and villages around Baiyer are stopping pigs from the Wainda community into their area,” Mr Steven reiterated.
Members of the community also said some men in their area have become sick after eating pork meat from a pig which died, after showing signs of ASF.
The people of Wainda are calling on the NAQIA officers based in Mt Hagen in the Western Highlands province to go down to the Wainda community in the Baiyer River area and inspect why more than 15 pigs have died within a week.
Baiyer River shares land border with Enga, Sepik and Madang and it is likely that ASF can cross these borders and affect pigs in Baiyer.
NAQIA is still conducting checks and monitoring ASF in affected provinces and areas in the country.