July 14, 2005

South African pigs quarantined for suspected swine fever

A suspected swine fever outbreak in the Western Cape province of South Africa has prompted the quarantine all pig farms in the area and to stop exports of pigs or pork products from the area in the next four weeks.

After the outbreak was detected by the country's Department of Agriculture last week, 700 pigs had died on two farms and 50 in informal settlements.

The Western Cape Veterinary Services (WCVS) had since disposed of 1,200 more pigs on the two farms. The farmers affected would also be compensated by the government for their losses, WCVS said.

Samples were collected after several pigs died last week on a farm near Worcester, a town situated about 120 km from South Africa's capital Cape Town. The agriculture department is now waiting for lab test results from the UK.

Though swine fever can be spread in many ways, such as by contact between humans, animals, insects, vehicles, clothing and waste food, it only has a detrimental effect on pigs.

However, the disease could potentially damage the South African pig industry and the international trade in pig. Pork is South Africa's third most popular meat after chicken and beef.

The country has been free of the disease since 1918.