Dajabón.- Agricultural authorities confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever in the community of El Pino, Dajabón, raising concerns among pig farmers and producers in the region.
The Northwest Regional Director of Livestock, Eduard Paulino, reported that the disease re-emerged in the area due to a pig restocking program, despite the virus's history in the region. "We have records of payments made to affected producers in the past and of animals slaughtered due to previous outbreaks. However, the virus has reappeared in the same area," he explained.
Challenge in controlling the virus
Paulino warned about the persistence of the virus, which can survive up to 1,000 days in frozen meat. He also highlighted the difficulty of eradicating it due to the feeding methods used in informal farms. "In the country, many backyard pigs are fed household waste, which facilitates the spread of the virus," he noted.
Given the situation, a technical team has been sent to the location to collect samples and implement appropriate safety measures.
Government actions and warnings to breeders
Authorities have received government authorization to take action against African swine fever and have reiterated that no compensation will be provided to farmers who have already received compensation in previous outbreaks.
"Producers should approach us if they wish to repopulate their farms, but it's important to clarify that we won't pay twice for the same pig," Paulino emphasized. "The State will not assume new compensation payments in areas where it had already been warned against raising pigs," he added.
Ranchers demand support for million-dollar losses
Affected breeders have reported significant financial losses. Delbi de Jesús Rosario reported that she has lost 38 pigs, representing more than 300,000 pesos. "The animals stop eating, we inject them, and they don't react, then they vomit blood and die," she said.
For his part, producer Yillo Pérez said he has been unable to sleep due to his worries, as his losses exceed 200,000 pesos. Both men made an urgent appeal to the authorities for assistance.
The provincial agricultural official in Dajabón, Juan Ernesto Fernández, expressed his concern about the situation and announced that he has sent a veterinary team to the area to assess the impact of the outbreak.
Authorities urge producers to cooperate in implementing preventive measures to prevent the spread of the virus and minimize losses in the pork sector.
