Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. - Filepic/The Star
KOTA KINABALU: The African Swine Fever (ASF) which hit Sabah two years ago is subsiding but the state is still in the recovery phase.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said veterinary officials were making sure that there were no new cases being detected in the state’s pig farms.
“We are still in the recovery period, we are continuing to monitor the situation,” Kitingan told reporters after marking the Anzac Day ceremony at the North Borneo War Monument in Jalan Tugu here yesterday.
Kitingan, who is state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister, said 20 districts were affected by the ASF disease and all the districts remain in recovery as of Aug 31 last year.
He said the ban on wild boar hunting would also remain until Sabah was free from ASF.
The disease was first detected in February 2021.
“ASF cases have subsided, but it is still not safe to allow wild boar hunting,” he said.
On the marking of the sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died in the liberation of Sabah during World War II, Kitingan said it was an important event to remember as they sacrificed their lives to defend Sabah’s sovereignty for the better future of the people.
“Anzac Day serves as a reminder to us, especially the younger generation, of how important their sacrifice was to save our country.
“We can emulate these war heroes in our struggle to strengthen the country in terms of politics, unity and development,” said Kitingan, who laid the wreath on behalf of the state government.
