Sarawak culls 5,593 pigs

The Straits Times (Malaysia)
18 July 2000

SIBU -- A total of 5,593 pigs from three farms have been culled in the first ever pig culling operation in the state of Sarawak which began on Thursday.

The operation ended successfully yesterday afternoon with the culling of 639 pigs from a farm which was included in the operation when some of its pigs began to die on Saturday, showing symptoms of Nipah virus infection.

The pigs were chased or shoved into two trenches dug at the farm and then shot by army personnel.

Similar operations on two other farms, where two workers had tested positive for the Nipah virus, were completed on Sunday.

Besides the two farm workers, an abattoir worker and a butcher had also tested positive for the infection. The culling operation involved 150 army sharpshooters, the police, the Sibu Municipal Council as well as officials and employees from various departments. --Bernama