A virus that kills pigs in sausages smuggled out of the country

Customs and Quarantine Officers have taken into custody a stock of sausages with "African swine fever virus" which has a strong effect on the death of pigs, which had been smuggled into the Sri Lankan market without any approval from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

 The meat stock including these sausages was imported from China.  2560 kg of fresh frozen duck meat, 171 kg of frozen fresh chicken meat, 56 kg of Taiwan Grill Sausage, 132 kg of duck heads, 20 kg of chicken wings were imported by the concerned importer without the permission of the Department of Animal Production and Health.  The Department of Animal Production and Health states that 288 kg of sweet corn roll sausages were imported.

 The customs officials have informed the officials of the quarantine departments regarding the meat container with the sausages, where it has been revealed that the sausages contain the virus called "African swine fever virus".  This virus is the causative agent of African swine fever.  This virus causes hemorrhagic fever after entering the body of pigs, and due to its effect, domestic pigs are at risk of dying within a week.

 Director General of the Animal Production and Health Department, Dr. Hemali Kothalawala, said that the presence of this virus in the food concerned was discovered during the inspection conducted by the Veterinary Research Institute, and accordingly, the Quarantine Division decided to destroy not only the relevant sausage stock but also all other meat stocks.  She said.

 The Director General said that the permission of the Department of Animal Production and Health must be obtained when importing meat or meat-related products into Sri Lanka, and without such permission it is not possible to import meat.

 She said that if this virus enters pig farms, there is a risk of it spreading, and therefore all related meat is to be destroyed today (18th).