The african swine flu, a disease that does not affect humans and is present in 11 provinces of the Dominican Republic, It does not have a vaccine and the only way to control it is the sacrifice of the animals, confirmed the Ministry of Agriculture.
Erick Montilla, Communications Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, affirmed that in the country there is only a vaccine against classical swine fever.
“There is no vaccine or treatment for African swine fever. The only solution is to eliminate all affected pigs “explained the official when reacting to requests from affected pig farmers for the swine flu vaccine to be re-evaluated.
Breeders in the affected areas in Montecristi say that all their animals were vaccinated against swine fever, which has caused concern after the outbreak.
“It would be good for the government to initiate an investigation into the effectiveness of the vaccine we were using,” external Anazario Suero, affected breeder of Gozuela.
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The pig farmers assure that the economic losses caused by the disease in the communities of Montecristi are considerable.
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With the death of his pigs, Rodolfo Pichardo assures that he lost an investment of more than a million pesos. Nelson Aquino’s offspring – another of the producers – were valued at 750,000 pesos and Evangelista Contreras’ at 150,000.
Pig rearing constitutes the livelihood of most families in the affected communities, which is why pig farmers have been forced to dedicate themselves to other trades. Some have engaged in transport activities and others have chosen to work on farms to cover household expenses.
Evangelista Contreras, a former domestic worker in the city of Santiago, found in her native community of Gozuela, in the Montecristi province, a better paid occupation. For the last seven years of his life he has dedicated himself to raising and marketing pigs to help sustain his home.
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However, their economic contributions have been affected in the last two months by African swine fever, which caused the death of the 22 pigs that I had.
“With the little that my husband earns selling trinkets in the grocery store we are managing until the government authorizes that pigs can be bought again,” says the lady.
As a preventive measure, to prevent the spread of the disease, the authorities quarantined the Montecristi province. The Ministry of Agriculture prohibited the movement of live and dead pigs to and from that demarcation. In addition, he ordered the cleaning and disinfection of the affected places until they eliminate swine fever.
Nelson Aquino, another of those affected by Gozuela, does not lose hope that at some point from Agriculture they will fulfill their commitment to come to his aid.
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“I think they will honor their word and come with help,” said Aquino, with more than 20 years working in raising and selling pigs.
In addition to Gozuela, other localities affected in that border province by the disease are the Santa María municipal district, as well as the community of Copey. In each of these localities the pigs are empty as a result of the disease that has caused the death of more than two thousand pigs.
Due to the crisis that affects them, Rodolfo Pichardo had to change his address from Santa María to Santo Domingo, in order to be able to find daily bread from his home working as a driver in a fumigation company.
“I was forced to look for another alternative to the bankruptcy of the pig business,” said the pig farmer.
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