February 17, 2011

Tanzanian pigs affected in further ASF outbreaks

Tanzania's Mbyea region, which is near the borders of Malawi and Uganda, in the south-western part of the country, has reported four further outbreaks of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in its pigs.

The disease has been reported in four villages, in the districts of Kyela, Ileje and Rungwe (2), the Ministry of Livestock Development reported to the Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). In total, 1,610 pigs were involved in the ASF outbreaks, of which 191 have been found infected, and 79 actually died. Herd sizes in the villages varied from 239 to 680.

The outbreaks were submitted to the OIE between February 4 and 9. An earlier outbreak was reported in early December, also in Mbeya region, in the capital also named Mbeya.