October 21, 2003

Outbreak of Deadly Viral Swine Disease in Tanzania, Africa

In Africa, an outbreak of a deadly viral swine disease has killed at least 49 pigs in a month in six Tanzanian regions, the government said.

"The disease, known as African swine fever, which is highly contagious and fatal, has broken out in Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania bordering Kenya, Tanga in eastern coast region and Morogoro and Dodoma in central," the water and livestock development ministry said.

"It is a dangerous disease, capable of wiping out all pig populations in affected, as so far there is no known treatment nor vaccine," said the statement by Permanent Secretary Bakari Mahiza.