Pig farmers in the Kwahu West and West Gonja Municipalities of the Eastern and Savannah Regions are facing significant losses due to an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which is ravaging several communities.
According to reports, over five communities in the West Gonja Municipality have been impacted by the disease, although the exact number of pigs affected has not been disclosed.
Veterinary officers have confirmed that investigations are underway.
The outbreak has hit pig farming hard, especially in the Damongo area, where pig farming is a lucrative business due to the growing demand for pork.
The Ghana Health Service has been closely monitoring the situation while awaiting laboratory results to determine the severity of the outbreak and the next steps for controlling the disease.
In a related incident, another suspected case of African Swine Fever was reported in the Kwahu West Municipality, where farmers in the area have reported multiple deaths among their pigs, which prompted officials to send samples from the infected animals to the laboratory for confirmation.
The Ghana Health Service is also keeping a close watch on the situation there.
The African swine fever virus spreads through direct contact with infected pigs, contaminated feed and water, and vectors such as ticks and flies.
While the disease does not affect humans, it can be highly fatal to pigs, often killing them within a week of infection.
