African swine fever outbreak reported in S. Africa province

JOHANNESBURG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) on Thursday said there is an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the country's Northern Cape province.

DAFF said they have put in place control measures to manage the outbreak. The disease was identified after some pigs were moved from Kimberley to the Northern Cape.

"Farmers and speculators are advised to only buy pigs that come from a healthy herd and avoid buying from unknown suppliers at auctions. Under no circumstances should swill (kitchen waste) be fed to pigs unless it has been boiled for an hour in order to inactivate the ASF virus and other diseases of concern," said DAFF spokesperson Steve Galane.

African swine fever is a severe haemorrhagic disease of pigs. According to DAFF, pigs affected by the diseases die within a short space of time. The diseases can kill a high number of pigs within two to ten days. Enditem