"Blue-ear disease" kills over 1,200 pigs in northwest Cambodia

A new breakout of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) has taken the lives of more than 1,200 pigs while infecting some 3,200 more in three districts across Cambodia's Siem Reap province since mid-August, a local newspaper reported Monday.

Officials, meanwhile, are attempting to stem the spread of the disease by disinfecting pig farms and transportation vehicles.

Prum Vich, an animal health and production chief at the Siem Reap Provincial Agriculture Department, said the outbreak started on Aug. 14, according to the Phnom Penh Post.

Since then the disease has killed 1,204 pigs and infected 3,241 more. Two districts in Siem Reap -- Sotr Nikum and Chi Kraeng -- have borne the brunt of the outbreak, though the disease, also known as "blue-ear disease," has also spread to Prasat Bakong district.

"This happened in Cambodia in 2009, but for more than five years we had not had an outbreak," he was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

He added that while the disease is unlike bird flu or H1N1 in that it doesn't directly infect humans, tainted meat may cause health problems down the line and therefore must be disposed of.

"It affects human health if we eat the disease-ridden meat," Vich said. "That's why we told farmers whose pigs have died to bury them and not sell (the meat) at the market."

Vich said that officials have taken 23 samples to send to the National Laboratory for analysis, adding that the disease usually arises from a lack of hygiene on farms or in transportation vehicles.

"We do not have a vaccine, but we are spraying (disinfectant chemicals) to kill the virus on farms and transport (vehicles)," Vich said.

Tan Phanara, a director at the Ministry of Agriculture's Animal Health and Production Department, is set to lead a group of officials to Siem Reap on Monday to supply disinfectant and educate farmers and transporters about the disease. Endi