Farming: Over 250 Pigs Die Daily By Swine Flu, In Ogun, Lagos

………Pigs Now Sold At Giveaway Prices

Report reaching this online news platform has it that over 250 pigs die daily by swine flu in Ogun, Lagos.

The largest pig farm in West Africa, Oke-Aro Pig Farm, situated in the Oke Aro area of Ogun State with 10,000 acres of land and over 2000 small and medium-scale farmers has been hit with swine flu, killing over 250 pigs daily AllNews reports

Recently, some of the pigs have been dying from what experts call swine flu – a respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract of pigs and result in a barking cough, decreased appetite, nasal secretions and death in some cases.

According to reports over 250 animals die daily from pig influenza, resulting in owners selling them off to unsuspecting buyers at a reduced price.

Before the outbreak, Weaner pigs, the young ones that have just outgrown breastfeeding stage, were sold for about 4000, while semi-grower and standard growers went for 6500 and 10000, respectively. The bigger adult pigs that are closer to mating (About-to-cross) sold for between 15000 and 17000. However, since the outbreak, Weaner and semi growers go for about 1500, standard grower 4000, about-to-cross sells at 6000. This is because investors don’t want to be at a total loss.

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The majority of the pigs are sold after contracting the disease, while others are sold while still healthy, out of fear that they might contract the flu and die.

People come from different parts of Ogun and Lagos States to buy the infected pigs and sell to people. One of those places where the pigs end up is the popular Abattoir market in Oko Oba, Lagos.

Ekohotblog understands that the market favors the buyers rather than the sellers as the infected pigs are priced low. According to one of the sellers who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, he revealed that “People are actually willing to buy these animals but at a meager price or giveaway.”

It was learnt that the pig breeders lose 80 percent of their revenue and profit as pigs meant to be sold between N50,000 and N70,000 are sold at N5,000. He further stated that black marketers are also deepening their gain, making the pig market unprofitable, “It’s not profitable at all; instead, we are losing significantly.

“An animal that would have cost for about 50,000 and 70,000 is being sold at 5,0000, so the middlemen and the buyers are the ones enjoying the profit,” the source told AllNews, adding that, “It has affected the business severely because people are taking advantage of it.

“And the reason is that there’s no proper regulation as well as the black marketers taken huge advantage of farmers by underselling the animals at 80 per cent cheaper than the actual maintenance cost and not even profit. So animals that would be sold for like N40,000 are being sold at N5,000 now. Farmers have lost 100 per cent of their pigs.”

About Swine Influenza 

Swine Influenza (swine flu/H1N1) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses do not usually infect humans. Still, rare human infections have occurred, especially in individuals who have had a history of recent direct contact with pigs or close (within 6 feet) contact with pigs.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), avian, swine and other zoonotic influenza infections in humans may cause disease ranging from mild upper respiratory infection (fever and cough) to rapid progression to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock and even death.

A microbiologist, Hassan Kolawole, who shared his thoughts on the likely health implications, maintained that while it is not healthy for consumption, one cannot be infected by eating pork or any end products from an infected pig.

He said, “By eating well-cooked pork (Eating undercooked pork can result in intestinal tapeworm if the pork contains larval cysts), humans cannot get the flu. However, the danger is in the contact stage, at the point where such pigs are bought. H1N1 flu viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get H1N1 flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills all viruses and other food-borne pathogens.

“Another thing is that Swine flu viruses may mutate (change) so that they are easily transmissible among humans. It is transmitted from person to person by inhalation or ingestion of droplets containing virus from people sneezing or coughing; they spray tiny drops of the virus into the air. If you come in contact with these drops, touch a surface where the drops landed, or touch something an infected person has recently touched, you can catch H1N1 swine flu.”

A veterinarian, John Okonkwo, also echoed the opinion of Hassan.

According to Okonkwo, the danger is at the contact point where people can get infected with the flu.

“The average Nigerian is not hygienic. Most of these people who work on pig farms hardly take care of themselves and if they do, what about those buying the pigs already infected with swine flu? The truth is that majority of Nigerians are suddenly conscious of the need to watch their hands regularly because of coronavirus pandemic.

“However, people cannot get the flu from eating pork or pig products. That has not been proven yet,” he said.

Symptoms Similar With COVID-19

The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19, regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, coughing, stuffy nose and body aches. Some people with H1N1 flu have also reported having a sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.