RE: NCAPE ACTS AGAINST THE SPREAD OF CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER
The Northern Cape’s Department of Agriculture and Land Reform’s
Veterinary Services is extending an urgent appeal to all pig owners to register
or list themselves with the department. This would assist the unit in its all
out effort of ensuring that the province remains unaffected by the outbreak of
classical swine fever which was detected in some areas of the Western and
Eastern Cape provinces in July 2005.
Emerging and commercial pig owners whose stock has not yet been
inspected are requested to contact the regional Veterinary Services offices at:
Kuruman (Kgalagadi District) 053 712 1030; Calvinia (Bo-Karoo) 027 3411045;
Kimberley (Frances Baard) 053 832 4241; Springbok (Namaqua) 027 712 1311; De
Aar (Pixley Ka Seme) 054 332 1531 and Upington (Siyanda) 054 3321 531.
The outbreak has led to a series of intensive surveillance measures such
as road blocks being conducted over the past weekend on a number of the
province’s main roads. This operation that is being conducted by veterinary
officials, the police, members of the defence force and district councils
disaster management teams, will continue indefinitely. This follows the national
Department of Agriculture imploring provinces to immediately detect any
possible extension of the outbreak.
To assist the control measures in the whole country and prevent the
spread of the disease, the Senior Manager Animal Health of the national Department
of Agriculture has also instituted temporary state veterinary movement control
measures, in terms of the Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984, for all live pig and
pig carcass transports across all provincial boundaries throughout the whole of
South Africa.
The national Department of Agriculture has earlier indicated that no
live pigs (domestic pigs, bush pigs and warthogs) are allowed to move through,
into or out of the affected areas and no pork products, raw or processed, are
allowed out of these quarantined areas. The South African Pig Producers’
Organization (SAPPO) supports these measures.
The public is requested to assist Veterinary Services and SAPPO in
combating this outbreak. Any abnormalities and disease symptoms in pigs should
be reported immediately to the nearest State Veterinarian. The public is also
requested to note that state veterinary movement permits are required for the
movement of any live pigs or pig carcasses across provincial boundaries.
Further information and the required state veterinary movement permits are
available at the local State Veterinary Offices. END
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform
Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi; Tmothibi@grand.ncape.gov.za
mobile: 083 255 8840
Disease Background:
Classical swine fever, also known as hog cholera or European swine
fever, is a viral disease of domestic- and wild pigs. In its early stages, it
is characterised by high fever, loss of appetite, depression, huddling together,
discoloration of the skin, constipation and later diarrhea and vomiting. Loss
of coordination and hind-limb paralysis are frequently seen. The disease cannot
be treated. The virus can survive in pig meat products, as well as frozen pig
carcasses, for extended periods of time. Classical swine fever is not known to
pose a public health risk, but pigs that have died should not be consumed.g