African swine fever has been identified as the cause of death of about 20 pigs found in Gqeberha, specifically in the Grogro community near Sherwood, according to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s health boss, Thsonono Buyeye.
The outbreak has left residents concerned, with some dog owners worried as their pets sniff and even lick or nibble near where the carcasses were found. The US Department of Agriculture notes that African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs, but does not infect humans.
African Swine Fever: What You Need to Know
Leana Janse van Rensburg, a Garden Route vet, explained that African swine fever spreads quickly between pigs and often leads to death, but it does not pose a risk to human health. “It is not influenza,” Janse van Rensburg said. “What is being referred to is African swine fever, a viral disease that affects pigs only. It spreads quickly among pigs and is often deadly for domestic pigs. Wild pigs such as African bushpigs and warthogs can carry the virus without showing signs of illness as they’re immune.”
Containing the Outbreak
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s environmental health team and the state vet are working in the Grogro community to educate the community and to contain the spread of the disease. Buyeye said the dead animals had been removed for safe disposal, but there could be more carcasses in the area. Residents have reported finding dead pigs in various locations, including Birkenhead Crescent in Sherwood, Yorkshire Crescent, and Ferreira Street in Benkamma.
Some residents have expressed concerns about the delay in removing the carcasses, with one resident, Chantelle Pretorius, saying they were “stinking” and had been left for days without being removed. Another resident, Tina Linley, said: “They are dropping like flies. Nobody seems to want to do anything about it. They are lying here for days, stinking, swelling and full of flies, and who knows what is going to come out of these pigs.”
Here are some key facts about African swine fever:
- African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs.
- It spreads quickly between pigs and often leads to death.
- It does not infect humans.
- Wild pigs such as African bushpigs and warthogs can carry the virus without showing signs of illness.
For more information on African swine fever, visit the World Organisation for Animal Health website.
