The mystery disease that hit China’s southern Guangdong province has, by now, killed thousands of pigs. Even after the affected farms being disinfected along with the markets and abattoirs, the disease does not seem to cease its toll.
Infected by the disease, the animals stops eating, followed by high fevers and hemorrhage under their skin. This eventually leads to their death.
According to several Hong Kong newspapers, the epidemic is no more confined to the province, but has spread to nearby towns, with its initial breaking out in Silao town, around early April killing more than 300 pigs. Till date, some estimated more than 3,000 animals died of the disease.
The administration should take more organized steps in curbing not only its spread within the province, but also to nearby towns. It must have a check on the panicked farmers, struck with heavy financial losses. They are reportedly selling the sick pigs hastily at reduced prices to meet their survival requirements.
Not just that! The disease might have spread in the surrounding areas because of some of the carcasses, being hurled into rivers, contaminating the regions water system as a whole!
But, although the cause of the disease is unknown, the people have less chances of contracting the disease, the experts informed. But, this is not enough. To protect the harmless animals from dying, the administration needs to gear up to curb its spread at the roots.
Photo: theage.com.au