Feral pigs posing Japanese encephalitis risk in the NT have been removed

A remote Territory community has dealt with a pest ‘creating havoc’ in their region and eliminated a deadly disease.

Roper Gulf Regional Council has successfully led a ground breaking feral pig management and removal program. Picture: supplied

Roper Gulf Regional Council has eliminated the mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis in the communities of Numbulwar and Ngukurr by removing feral pigs from the area.

Feral pigs wandering in and out of communities have posed a severe threat to the region’s population as a “reservoir” for the virus.

Japanese encephalitis, a virus related to dengue and yellow fever, can be spread to humans through mosquitoes after biting infected pigs.

It cannot be transmitted from human to human or by eating meat from an infected animal.

Local children in Ngukurr looking at feral pigs in a trap – a measure led by the council to manage the spread of disease. Picture: Supplied

The Roper Gulf Regional Council has spent several years addressing the issue of feral pigs and has implemented “safe, humane and effective feral pig management techniques”.

“We were experiencing feral pigs living in our communities, raiding rubbish bins, spreading garbage, creating havoc and sanitation issues, and ultimately being a vector for Japanese encephalitis – the risks to our residents were too high,” Roper Gulf Regional Council chief executive Marc Gardner said.

“Our commitment to the health and safety of our residents has propelled us to implement this comprehensive pig management scheme to reduce all pigs.

“The program was executed with utmost consideration for the local ecosystem, ensuring that all unique flora and fauna remain unharmed.”

A feral pig roaming the street in Numbulwar, “raiding rubbish bins” according to Council chief Marc Gardner. Picture: Supplied

The council worked with various organisations including Wild Science, local ranger programs, police and community members.

While most cases of Japanese encephalitis in people are asymptomatic, severe cases can lead to neck stiffness, coma, permanent neurological complications and even death.

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, 45 people have been infected with Japanese encephalitis in Australia since January 2021 and seven of those have died as a result.

Although there are no treatments for the disease, free vaccinations are available for priority groups throughout the states and territories.

So far this year, there have been no new human cases of Japanese encephalitis identified in Australia.