The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has confirmed a case of African Swine Fever within the area of Ipelegeng, at the Mamusa Local Municipality in the North West.
About 162 pigs died in December last year, and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) (Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute) confirmed this was at a communal pigsty set.
The State Veterinary Services in the North West says the highly contagious viral disease poses a significant threat to both domestic and wild pig populations. was identified by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) OVI (Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute) in a communal pigsty set.
According to the Director for Veterinary Services, Dr Langa Madyibi, samples were collected from the site which comprises a group of 33 pig farmers to “further investigate and establish a conclusive diagnosis as well as the genetic linkage between the current and the previous outbreak which happened in 2016.”
“In addition, a Joint Operation Centre has been set up in Mamusa with all the relevant stakeholders and an action plan to prevent and control the spread of the disease has been crafted.
These control measures in the ASF control zone will aim to prevent movement of pigs and pig products in and out of Ipelegeng,” read a statement from the department.
The department said contact between warthogs and domestic pigs must be avoided to prevent the disease from circulating in the domestic pig population.
“The Department urges all pig owners to be very vigilant, particularly in areas surrounding the affected Ipelegeng Township.
Farmers are further warned that contact between wild and domestic pigs should be avoided as the disease readily transmits between infected pigs.
Feeding of swill is prohibited by the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) unless it is cooked for 30 minutes to kill all bacteria and viruses that may be transmitted to pigs,” said Madyibi.
According to the department, domestic pigs are highly susceptible and most of the infected pigs will show severe hemorrhagic (bleeding) symptoms and will die soon after contracting ASF.
A small proportion of animals may survive and will carry the ASF virus for a few months without any signs of disease but with the ability to infect in-contact pigs.
The department said it is also critical to prevent the disease from spreading to the wild pig population “as this may lead to an endemic state being created, which will affect the trade of pigs and pig products.”
Meanwhile, the department MEC Madoda Sambatha has met with the farmers and mapped a way forward that will assist with the control of the ASF outbreak in the area.
