Over 500 pigs dead as African swine fever ravages Zombo
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease, often lethal to pigs, but poses no threat to human health.
Zombo: A severe outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) has decimated swine herds in Zombo District, with 516 pigs reported dead, according to the latest District Veterinary Disease and Parasite Surveillance Report for Quarter Two of the 2024/25 financial year.
This marks an alarming 87.5% mortality rate compared to the previous year.
Presenting the report at a recent Zombo District Council meeting, Jane Evalyne Othora, Chairperson of Production, Natural Resources, and Commercial Services, emphasized the serious threat ASF poses to livestock and the local economy.
“The committee assessed the veterinary sector’s disease landscape and identified multiple pathogens and parasites, with African Swine Fever and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) being the most dominant in our herds,” she said.
The affected areas include Nyapea, Warr Town Council, Zeu, Padea Town Council, Alangi, Akaa, and Athuma. In response, authorities have imposed a temporary ban on pork trading, intensifying economic hardships for farmers and traders alike.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease, often lethal to pigs, but poses no threat to human health. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated surfaces or equipment, ingestion of infected pork, and even soft-bodied ticks.
Denis Dongwa, Secretary for Production, highlighted illegal pork trading and porous borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo as major drivers of the outbreak. “Prompt case reporting and continuous producer education are vital to curb the spread,” Dongwa urged.
Veterinary experts also point to inadequate biosecurity, traditional free-range pig farming, and lack of control over pig movements as critical challenges in managing ASF in Uganda.
Zombo Town Council District Councillor Mike Joram Anyolitho echoed calls for tighter enforcement against illegal pork trading. “We must hold all actors in the pork value chain traders, transporters, and processors accountable in biosecurity planning,” he said.
ASF remains a notifiable disease under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) due to its catastrophic impact on animal health, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods.
ASF often appears in acute form, with symptoms such as high fever, skin discoloration, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and reproductive issues.
In the absence of a vaccine, prevention hinges on halting swill feeding and improper waste disposal, restricting meat in swine areas, enforcing farm-level biosecurity and movement controls and immediate reporting of suspected cases.
As of now, there is no commercially available ASF vaccine. However, global research efforts are showing progress with experimental live attenuated and subunit vaccines. Challenges remain around safety, strain coverage, and manufacturing scale.
Ugandan authorities are closely monitoring these developments, aiming to integrate future vaccines into a broader disease control framework.
Quarter Two 2024/25 Animal Disease Report Highlights that ASF has killed 516 pig, newcastle disease has killed 2,694 poultry, east coast fever has claimed over 60 cattle, anaplasmosis has killed 70 cattle and heartwater has claimed three cattle.
ASF has been endemic in Uganda for years, with multiple outbreaks tied to poor diagnostics, weak surveillance, and cross-border animal movement. The Zombo District outbreak is a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective action in surveillance, education, and enforcement.
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