YANGON, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Over 50 pigs have died of the African swine fever in Tachilek township of eastern Myanmar's Shan State, the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department said on Thursday.
Ye Tun Win, director-general of the department, told Xinhua on Thursday that laboratory tests were conducted upon receiving reports of deceased pigs.
In response, movement of pigs in the affected area has been restricted to prevent further spread of the disease, the official said.
Currently, the affected regions have been designated as disease control zones in efforts to contain the spread of the swine disease, he said.
The deceased pigs have been either incinerated or buried so as to prevent disease transmission. Investigations were going on to determine the origin of the disease outbreak, he added.
Ye Tun Win said the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department will conduct a thorough investigation for a period of 100 days. After this monitoring period, if no new cases are reported, the area will be declared free of the African swine disease.
The African swine fever is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. ■
