State modernisation of agriculture and regional development minister Stephen Rundi Utom said the Sarawak department of veterinary services  (DVS) had mobilised personnel to determine the extent of the outbreak and take action to contain the disease.

This comes two days after the DVS confirmed that pigs at 16 commercial farms were infected with the disease in Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, with 1,864 pigs culled.

Rundi reminded the public that the import of pork and pork products was already banned from countries affected by the African swine fever. This ban includes imports from West Malaysia and Sabah.

“Sarawak DVS will continue to conduct checks at airports, ports and shops to make sure pork and pork products brought in illegally are not sold to the public.”

He urged local farmers to be vigilant to prevent the disease from infecting their herds.

Last month, the disease had also been detected among wild boar in Bidor and Sungkai in Perak, as well as in Jerantut, Pahang.

An outbreak of African swine fever was also reported among wild bearded pigs and domesticated pigs in 10 districts in Sabah in April 2021.