Lango Web

By Bonney Odongo in Lira,  2 May 2009

Dead pigs in Lira (Photo: Bonnface Odongo)

At least 30 pigs have died and several others fallen sick in Railways division in Lira municipality following the out break of an unknown pig disease in the area.

The disease started from Ayago parish and spread to Bar Onger and Bar Mogo parishes according to Marvin Kawere, the LC1 chairperson for market square village in Railways division.

He said 3 pigs belonging to George Ewai, 3 for Selly Ayo, 5 for Bosco Ogwal, and ten belonging to him (LC1) died within a fortnight of disease outbreak while several others have shown signs of the disease.

The pigs, he said first develop body weaknesses before foams start oozing from their mouths and eventually die off after a short time.

Talking to New Vision reporter over the weekend, Kawere noted that over twenty other pig carcasses were buried in the nearby swamp.

While some of the sick pigs were slaughtered, their internal organs removed and the meet preserved by residents through smocking pending clearance by veterinary doctors before it could be eaten.

"We in Railway Division depend on rearing pigs for income and we request doctors to help us in this emergency", Kawere said,  adding that no resident would be allowed to eat the meet before the approval from veterinary doctors.

When contacted on Saturday for comments, the district veterinary officer, Dr. Wilson Okwir said was yet to establish why pigs were dying in Railways division.

"Railway division is just near my office but nobody has approached us to report the case, they ran and informed the radio stations instead of coming to our office",  Okwir said.

Most hotels and pork joints in Lira municipality rely on supplies from Railways as it leads in the number of pigs reared in the municipality.

The unknown disease broke out in Railway division at a time when the world is at alert of the swine fever, a disease that has so far killed several pigs and infected hundreds of humans.