Despite Government Warnings: Pigs Continue To Be Smuggled In-Between Regions

Life has been a nightmare for inhabitants of the West region who depend on pig farming for a living. This is following a decision from Governor Awa Fonka Augustine banning the sale of pigs and by-products in the region following the outbreak of the African swine fever.

Pig farmers have been instructed to keep their animals on a strict quarantine for a period that will be determined by the Governor in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly pig pest. Pig markets on the other hand have all closed for disinfection.

Face with this challenge, pig dealers have been struggling to move their pigs through illegal ways to other regions of Cameroon for sales, before the pest takes another dimension. To them, the losses amounting from the death of their animals are too heavy for them, reason while they are trying to liquidate some at minimum prices.

Security and Livestock officials in the Littoral Region have caught a vehicle in Melong transporting sixteen pigs to Douala in the Littoral Region for sales. Afraid that they would be caught at the check, the transporters decided to cross the check point with the pigs on motorcycles, through hidden roads.

Unfortunately for them, there were caught before they could take off. The animals were taken to the regional delegation of livestock and animal industry in the Mungo Division for investigation. Among the pigs, nine had died, and a test conducted by official of the livestock industry showed that the pigs were positive of the African swine fever, according to the regional delegation of Livestock and Animal Industry.

These pigs were immediately burnt. On his part, the governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonné Ivana has signed a release, instructing the population of the Littoral Region to avoid the consumption of pork within the time being.

In the same light, competent forces in Kekem, Chief capital of the Haut Camp Division of the West Region intercepted a Pick-up trying to smuggle pigs into the Littoral Region. These pigs were covered with cabbage for fear of security officials.

“We have intercepted these vehicles transporting pigs covered with cabbage, but thanks we have been able to uncover them thanks to our strategy. Again, the ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industry has instructed us to be more vigilant when it comes to the transportation of animals, particularly pigs,” said Pola Pierre Désiré, head of veterinary health control post in Kekem.

He added that “Let me use this opportunity to talk to pig dealers, be they breeders, vendors it transporters, that the instructions given should not be taken lightly. They should respect the law, so as to limit the spread of the diseases. If these measures are respected, we will all benefit. We know that it is difficult, but we have to respect them because if we do not respect them, we will all suffer the consequences.”

Security and Livestock officials in the North West Region have also banned the movement of pigs from the region to other regions, following the death of 6254 pigs from the African swine fever.

The Governor of the North West Region, Adolph Lele Lafrique recently signed an order prohibiting the transportation of pigs out of the region.

According to officials of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, a total of 6254 pigs in the region have been wiped out since the outbreak of the African swine fever late last month.

Soon after the outbreak of the African swine fever, authorities published a list of pig pens where the disease has been reported.

Sensitization campaigns on the swine disease are currently ongoing in the region. Public health officials have told the population to abstain from buying pork now, especially from doubtful sources. The Momo and Mezam Divisions are the most affected Divisions in the North West Region…

The African swine fever has so far been reported in the North, North West and West Regions, triggering a drop in sales. Markets, supermarkets and eateries no longer sell pork as before.

To prevent the disease from spreading to other regions, vendors especially in affected have been told to systematically disinfect the pigs and vehicles in which they are transported.

Ingrid KENGNE