Researchers fear swine fever outbreak in Indonesia could spread

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Pork News

Researchers fear swine fever outbreak in Indonesia

could spread

 

by Kristin Gagnon on 8/25/04 for Meatingplace.com

 

The Indonesian province of Papua has announced an

outbreak of swine fever, and scientists are worried it

will spread, according to wire service reports.

 

Researchers fear the highly contagious viral disease

could spread to Papua New Guinea, threatening

Australia's $1.3 billion pork industry, according to

the report.

 

" It's the pig equivalent to foot-and-mouth disease in

terms of the potential threat to an industry, " Lee

Fitzpatrick, associate professor at James Cook

University and director of the Australian Institute of

Tropical Veterinary and Animal Sciences, said.

 

According to Fitzpatrick, swine fever has killed

approximately 9,000 domestic pigs in Papua since

April.

 

" This outbreak could have drastic economic and social

consequences for villagers in Papua New Guinea, where

pigs are not only a source of food, but can have an

important cultural significance, " Fitzpatrick said.

 

Although swine fever does not affect humans, it has a

90 percent mortality rate among hogs.