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27 February 2024 Frequently Asked Questions about African Swine Fever (ASF)

Frequently Asked Questions about African Swine Fever (ASF)

For Immediate Release
27 February 2024

What is African Swine Fever (AFS)?

  • African swine fever (ASF) is a SERIOUS VIRAL DISEASE that affects wild and domestic pigs and can lead to serious economic and production loss in the pork industry.
  • It is a controlled animal disease under the Animal Diseases Act, Act 34 of 1984 and must be immediately notified to the Department of Agriculture (State Veterinarian).
  • There is no vaccine for treatment of affected pigs.
  • Warthogs and bush pigs can carry the virus but do not show signs of the disease.

How do pigs get sick from ASF?

  • Contact with sick domestic/wild pigs.
  • Ingestion of contaminated material (such as food, waste, feed and garbage).
  • Contact with contaminated people, shoes, clothing, vehicles and equipment.
  • Soft ticks

What are the Symptoms of sick pigs?

  • Redness of skin of the ears, abdomen and legs.
  • High fever.

Does ASF affect the health of people?

  • ASF is not transmitted to humans. However, it is not recommended to eat the meat of any sick animal or animal that has died.
  • The public must only consume meat that was approved by a meat inspector at an approved abattoir.
  • All meat must be cooked thoroughly before consumption.

 Good bio-security measures will help to prevent the spread of the disease from affected areas:

  • carcasses should be disposed of in a safe manner,
  • pigs should be confined in order to prevent roaming and potentially picking up and spreading the disease,
  • hands, shoes, clothing and equipment should be sanitised before and after being in contact with pigs,
  • any meat products should be thoroughly cooked before being fed to pigs and
  • pigs should only be bought from known ASF-free herds
  • Community members must not remove any pigs or pig products from the ASF affected area in order to prevent further spread of the disease.

For more information, please contact one of the Environmental Health Practitioners of the Garden Route District Municipality at 044 803 1300.

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