South African officials have confirmed the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country’s Northern Cape Province.
The severe haemorrhagic disease found in pigs is deadly with province’s department of agriculture saying on Thursday that “a great number of the deaths of pigs in a short span of time”.
The disease is transmitted by contact with other infected pigs, ticks or from infected swill, according to officials.
African Swine Fever is not however transmitted to humans but risk affecting the pork industry in South Africa which is already reeling from the deadly Listeria outbreak which has affected the poultry industry.
More than 200 people have been killed due to the Listeria disease outbreak traced to low-priced processed meat from a factory in South Africa.
The latest Swine Fever outbreak could cause the pork industry some $80 million in losses, according to Reuters report.
Source: Africafeeds.com
