WHAT IS AFRICAN SWINE FEVER?
– African swine fever or ASF for short is an acute disease in pigs caused by a virus. – It is characterized by high mortality rate in affected pig herds, i.e. it kills almost all infected pigs.
WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL SIGNS?
– Low energy & desire to sleep (Listlessness), lack of appetite and not interested in food (anorexia), shivering and muscular tremors, difficult labored breathing (dyspnea) and blood spots (hemorrhages) under the skin of the tail, ears and ventral abdomen.
HOW IS THE DISEASE TRANSMITTED?
– Through contact with infected wild or domestic pigs and infected soft ticks (Argasid tick).
– Through contact with people, vehicle equipment or shoes.
– Feeding or eating contaminated food waste, feed or garbage
HOW CAN THE DISEASE BE PREVENTED?
– Keep your pigs housed in pig proof structures to prevent contact with pigs of unknown health status. – Do not allow visitors to in close contact to your pigs as they might be unknowingly carrying the virus – Buy healthy pigs from a reliable source. – Avoid feeding kitchen waste or ensure that there is no pig meat (swill) in the kitchen waste. – Cook the kitchen waste thoroughly. (not less than an hour)
IS THE DISEASE TRANSMISSIBLE TO HUMANS?
– NO!!! The disease does not affect humans.
IS IT SAFE TO EAT MEAT FROM AN INFECTED HERD?
– Consumption of meat from a slaughter pig is safe.
– But remember!!! Any meat and products from affected pigs can be a source of infection to other pigs.
– Therefore, please ensure that if any swill (kitchen waste) is fed to pigs that it is pre-cooked for an hour.
WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENT CONTROL MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE?
– Affected pig farms are immediately quarantined – Surviving pigs in infected areas are destroyed and disposed of by burning or deep burial.
– The affected-depopulated farms are immediately disinfectant with a virucidal chemical.
– The disinfected depopulated farms must not restock for about a month to three months. – No movement of pigs from, into or through the affected farm is allowed.
– Pigs from unaffected farms in an area of outbreak are moved to an abattoir for slaughter through a health attestation or movement permit obtainable from the local State Veterinary Offices.
WHAT CAN THE PIG OWNERS DO?
– Pig farmers must be vigilant and report any sudden death or illness to the nearest local State Veterinary Office. – For more information, please contact the local State Veterinary Offices nearest to you.
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