Seminar on rural economy, African swine fever held at Pfutsero

KOHIMA — The Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF), in collaboration with the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), held a one-day seminar on October 28 at Pfutsero, Phek district, on ‘Rural economic self-reliance’ and ‘Prevention and remedies of African swine fever and lumpy skin disease’.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rosou Pohena, veterinary assistant surgeon, Veterinary Dispensary, Pfutsero, emphasised the collective effort from the village level to check the spread of viral diseases, adding that African swine fever is a highly contagious and fatal disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages.

The morbidity rate for African swine fever can approach 100% in naive herds of domesticated pigs, she said, noting that cumulative mortality depends on the virulence of the isolate and can range from 5% to 100%.

Humans do not get sick from African swine fever, Pohena said, but she maintained that meat contaminated with the virus should not be used to feed pigs, as pigs can get infected this way.

“It is therefore recommended to avoid feeding pigs food scraps or kitchen waste that have not been properly treated,” Pohena said.

CYF president Vezhodüyi Nakro said on the occasion that backyard piggery farming in the villages plays one of the most important roles in the progress of the rural economy for the Chakhesang community.

He mentioned that the ban on the import of pigs within Chakhesang jurisdiction by the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) and implemented by CYF has strengthened the rural economy of the community.

CYF vice president Nyitso Therie and CYF finance secretary Kevesa Khamo moderated the seminar.

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