The Western Cape provincial government has issued a quarantine notice aimed at restricting the movement of pigs after the detection of African swine fever in George.
The deadly disease was also detected in KwaNonqaba, outside Mossel Bay, earlier in January.
SA has about 4,000 commercial pork producers, employing about 10,000 people. Limpopo and the North West provinces are the largest producers, accounting for 24% and 21%, respectively. The Western Cape and Gauteng follow with a share of 11% each, according to government data.
Western Cape agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer said on Thursday the quarantine notice urges community members and farmers not to remove any pigs or pig products from the affected areas to prevent contagion.
African swine fever is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, and can cause serious production and economic losses. The disease does not affect humans and the consumption of pork is safe, but it spreads rapidly among domestic pigs and wild boars through direct contact or exposure to contaminated feed and water.
There is no treatment or vaccine for swine fever, and the transmission of the disease is largely controlled by restricting movement of livestock.
The disease has plagued pig farmers in Asia in recent times with China, which has one of the largest hog sectors, being the hardest hit. This led to the culling of millions of pigs and a sharp increase in pork prices at the height of the crisis.
In recent years in SA, outbreaks of the disease occurred in the Free State, the North West, Northern Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, though they were not as devastating as the outbreak in Asia.
Meyer said the provincial government is closely monitoring the outbreak of swine fever. “In addition, our state veterinary services will provide the necessary advisory services to prevent the further spread of the disease.”
He urged farmers to implement good hygiene management practices on their farms to minimise the risk of disease introduction or spread of the disease “through good biosecurity measures”.
Gininda Msiza, head of veterinary services, said the only avenue available to protect pigs is by establishing a set of measures to reduce the risk of further spread.
“Carcasses should be disposed of safely, pigs should be confined to prevent roaming and potentially the pickup and spread of the disease. Hands, shoes, clothing and equipment must be sanitised before and after contact with pigs, and meat products should be thoroughly cooked before being fed to pigs,” Msiza said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.