By Kantarawaddy Times
The recent outbreak of swine disease has severely impacted the livelihoods of pig farmers in Dee Maw Hso and Pruso Townships, with many now calling for urgent medical support.
In the past month, pigs have been dying in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp on the western side of Dee Maw Hso Township due to a lack of veterinary care, according to a female refugee who raises pigs.
Living in precarious conditions as IDPs, these families have relied on selling goods at local markets and raising pigs as their primary means of income. However, the loss of livestock due to the disease has significantly worsened their already difficult situation.
“We’ve been displaced for a long time now. Raising pigs is our only job. While it doesn’t fully cover our children’s education or our daily needs, it provides at least half of what we need to survive. Now, with our pigs getting sick, we’re left with nothing,” the woman explained.
Out of approximately 60 households in the camp, around 75% rely on pig farming, with about one-third of the pigs dying from the disease, she added.
Similarly, in three villages in the eastern part of Pruso Township, nearly every household engages in raising chickens and pigs. In recent days, these animals have also been succumbing to illness, according to a local man.
He expressed his hope for veterinary experts to investigate and identify the disease, while appealing for assistance to combat the outbreaks.
“We need people who can treat animals to come and find out what kind of disease this is,” he said.
The affected villages in Pruso Township include Lobyarleh, Dawkhuli, and Kayliar. Although swine diseases have occurred in previous years, they were typically limited to a single annual outbreak. However, this year has seen three separate incidents, causing even more concern among local communities.
