Lab testing aims to ascertain cause of several pig deaths in Arakan State

By DMG 24 Dec 2021

24 December 2021, Sittwe 

Officials are awaiting the results of a lab test to determine the reason for the deaths of a large number of swine in some Arakan State townships, according to the state’s Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department. 

“We have sent some blood samples to a lab in Yangon,” Dr. Win Soe, assistant director of the department, told DMG. 

According to preliminary results, the pigs died from diarrhoea, he said, adding that pig farmers need to study the science of swine breeding and vaccinate their pigs. 

More than 180 pigs died in Ponnagyun Township this month, said U Maung Kyaw Than, the head of Kalachaung village. 

“Thirteen pigs died today. The relevant department took blood samples of the dead pigs to test at a lab for the reason of their death,” he said. 

Affected swine farmers have said their pigs died after exhibiting symptoms such as lack of appetite, runny nose, constipation and an inability to pass urine. 

Ma Khin Mar Nwe Win, a pig farmer from Kulabar village in Kyaukphyu Township, said: “I breed two pigs and they died one after the other. The first one had a runny nose and was lethargic. And it died later, after not eating any food. Another one died 15 days later, although it was vaccinated.”  

With the reason for the spate of untimely pig deaths still unknown, people are increasingly concerned about consuming pork in parts of Arakan State.