Dr Mpho Maja, Director of Animal Health at the Department of Agriculture, spoke to OFM News about the symptoms of this virus as well as how to prevent an outbreak in piggeries. 

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The department says in a statement that the diagnosis was confirmed from tissue samples that were collected from a post mortem that was conducted on the farm by a private veterinarian. State vet, Dr Andries Nel, tells OFM News that the outbreak started early last month and that no new outbreaks have been reported. He says that four outbreaks have been reported in the province.

Nel adds that a group of expert vets has been established to monitor the situation.

The department is maintaining quarantine at the farm as a control measure.

Meanwhile, Maja previously told OFM News that ASF is a disease that is caused by a virus. The virus mainly affects pigs – both domestic as well as wild pigs. She added that ASF is not a zoonosis. This means that the virus cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.

Infection occurs when pigs get into contact with other infected animals. Maja said that this usually occurs when farmers do not confine their pigs and they roam around freely.

Another way that pigs can be infected with the virus is through feeding pigs kitchen waste that may be containing infected meat. Maja explained that the virus can survive very cold or frozen material. The virus can also survive when the meat is not properly cooked.

She further stated that this is the reason why there is a general prohibition of feeding kitchen waste to pigs – unless it has been cooked at 100 degrees celsius for at least 60 minutes.

Furthermore, pigs can also contract ASF through contaminated equipment or formites. Maja said that this typically occurs when the owner or someone who works at the piggery visits an infected piggery and bring equipment from the infected establishment to theirs.

Signs that pig farmers should look out for includes high temperatures. Farmers should also look out for animals who refrain from eating as this may be a sign that they are not feeling well. She added that ASF also causes bleeding into the skin and this is evident by visible red patches on the skin – especially on their abdomen.

Other symptoms include vomiting, coughing, difficulty in walking and paralysis. Maja says that close to 100% of infected pigs usually die.

Also, farmers should be mindful of where they buy their pigs. Maja said that farmers should, when buying pigs, isolate them for at least one month before introducing them to the rest of the herd.

OFM News