Last Updated on 2023-03-13 , 9:37 am
While it seems like diseases like COVID-19 have taken a backseat for now, it also seems like other issues have arisen as well.
One of them is African swine fever (ASF), a deadly virus affecting pigs and wild boars.
Thankfully, it’s not zoonotic, which means that humans can’t contract it.
However, it’s still been affecting our country.
Here’s why.
New Cases Detected in North of Singapore
When speaking to The Straits Times yesterday (9 March), Dr Chang Siow Foong revealed that more cases of ASF have been found in Singapore.
Dr Chang, the National Parks Board’s (NParks’) group director of the Animal and Veterinary Service, added that most of the new cases were found in the north of Singapore.
So yes, maybe it’s an Yishun problem after all. I’m just kidding.
As for what ASF is, Dr Chang explained that it is a disease with a high fatality rate and was first found in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2018, it was said that the disease, which is spread through wild boars, pigs, as well as contaminated materials, had entered the Asia-Pacific.
Since then, millions of pigs have been culled in order to curb the spread of the virus.
However, despite the scary-sounding situation, here’s some good news: The disease is considered endemic in Southeast Asia.
And even though Singapore doesn’t have any pig farms, it was recorded in an NParks study from 2019 to 2020 that around 150 to 200 wild boars live in our country’s forests, meaning that ASF can still spread between the wild boars in the country.
Dr Chang then said that NParks is closely analysing and observing the issue, as well as how ASF ended up in Singapore’s wild boars.
First Detected in Singapore Last Month
Just last month, on 7 February, it was reported that the first case of ASF was detected in Singapore.
It was found in a wild boar carcass located in the northwest of Singapore.
Since then, 17 more cases have been recorded across the island, bringing the total number of ASF cases in Singapore to 18.
Based on a report published by the World Organisation for Animal Health, 15 of the wild boars with ASF were found dead.
Six of the carcasses were found on Pulau Ubin, while four were found in a forested area near Tengah.
The remaining carcasses were found in various forested areas and nature parks in the north and west of Singapore, such as Kranji Coastal Nature Park.
As for the other three boars, which were trapped near Lorong Asrama, they were killed and disposed of.
ASF has a Mortality Rate of Over 90%, Wild Boar that Contract it Will be Euthanised
Last month (February), wildlife experts predicted that ASF would likely cause a decrease in the number of wild boars in Singapore when speaking to The Straits Times.
It was also revealed that the disease has a mortality rate of over 90%.
With regards to this, Dr Chang added that there are no vaccines or treatments for ASF as of now.
He said that wild boars would be “euthanised on welfare grounds” if they show symptoms of ASF and that any carcasses found would be disposed of accordingly.
Dr Chang also shared that NParks currently utilises a biosurveillance symptom to detect animal diseases such as ASF promptly.
As such, NParks will continue to observe the health condition of wild boars in Singapore’s various nature reserves, parks and other green spaces.
He also advised members of the public to refrain from getting close to animals in these areas and to call the Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 if they spot any sick or dead animals.
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Countries Have Tightened Import Restrictions for Pork from Singapore
As for how ASF has affected our export industry, the Philippines and Taiwan have tightened their import restrictions regarding pork products from Singapore.
Most recently, on Monday (6 March), the Department of Agriculture in the Philippines imposed a temporary ban on travellers entering the country with pig products from Singapore.
The pig products include pork, pig skin and pig semen carried by hand.
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