Hengky Ola Sura, Maumere – Around 120 pigs on farms across North Central Timor regency in East Nusa Tenggara have died suddenly of unknown causes, with the number likely to rise as officials begin collecting data.
North Central Timor regent Raymundus Sau Fernandes said the dead pigs came from farms in the Kefamenanu, North Bikomi, South Bikomi, Biboki Anleu, North Insana and Insana Fafinesu districts.
He added that blood samples from the dead pigs had been sent to Medan Veterinary Research Center in North Sumatra to determine the cause of the pigs' deaths.
"For now, we are giving medicine and vitamins to the pigs that are sick," he said on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.
There are concerns the deaths might be related to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak that has killed tens of thousands of pigs in North Sumatra and hundreds of pigs in Bali in the past few months.
In Sikka regency, where many residents are pig farmers, regent Robby Idong has instructed all district, subdistrict and village heads to be on alert for ASF.
"Residents should inform staff from the Sikka regency's agriculture and livestock agency if they find any signs of unnatural pig deaths," Robby said. (kmt)