The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) is the regulatory body for the veterinary and para-veterinary professions in South Africa and has a statutory duty to determine scientific and ethical standards of professional conduct and education. 

To create awareness about diseases and zoonoses within South Africa that have an impact on South Africa’s farming sector, the SAVC recently reached out to and referenced information about African swine fever (ASF) from Dr Leana Janse van Rensburg from the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).

African swine fever is a contagious, viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boar, leading to high mortality. It is not contagious to people. First detected in the early 1900s in Africa, the disease has spread internationally to countries in Asia and Europe. Currently, there is no  treatment or vaccine for ASF. It has proven difficult to control the transmission of the disease. Often, movement restriction and herd depopulation are necessary control measures because of how quickly the virus spreads. 

The industry is reliant on strict biosecurity measures to be in place to contain the spread of ASF.  In South Africa, there are defined ASF controlled areas in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu Natal  where the disease remains endemic in warthogs and soft ticks. Movement restrictions for all wild and domestic pigs and their products apply to, from and within these areas to prevent the disease from spreading to the unaffected areas of the country.

DALLRD recognises that control measures need to be revised as many herds are being infected through contact between pigs and with infected meat products. Contact between pigs of different origins especially at, for example, livestock auctions present a significant risk for spread of the disease. When an outbreak occurs, there can be serious production and economic consequences for the swine industry and the farmer as the case fatality rate can be up to 100%. Outbreaks also usually result in export bans on pigs and pork products from affected countries. Pork prices drop drastically lower than market rate, which has an undesirable effect on the pork industry’s profitability.

DALLRD is effectively collaborating with various organisations and stakeholders to identify which steps of the value chain need interventions in order to decrease the risk of spread of this disease. The veterinary professional is an important stakeholder in any disease control strategy and both veterinary doctors and para-veterinarians are an integral part of the veterinary team through supporting the African Swine Fever Control Strategy.  All stakeholders are encouraged to create awareness amongst the community and fellow swine farmers. 

Dr Leana says, “Biosecurity is key in preventing ASF introduction into pig herds, only buy pigs from known healthy herd, don’t allow visitors/vehicles close to your pigs, keep a pair of shoes/clothes that you only use when working with your pigs and rather don’t feed kitchen waste containing meat products.”

Mr Mongezi Menye, CEO of the SAVC, highlights the process that is involved when reporting cases of ASF.  “The disease needs to be taken more seriously amongst our veterinarians and we require them to follow strict protocols when working with pigs on farms and in their clinics.”  Farmers are sometimes hesitant to report signs of ASF to the authorities because of the devastating financial and emotional effect of losing their herds.  When any signs of ASF are apparent, the farmer must report this to the state vet and sometimes to a private vet who will then report to the National body (DALLRD). 

“It is ethically our responsibility as veterinarians to assist DALLRD with this process through rapid diagnosis and to be aware of the symptoms as early as possible instead of treating the pigs for other possible illnesses and allowing infected animals to contaminate one another.”  As a community, farm owners can work together and protect their neighbours – this will reduce the financial impact when various farms are affected because of a lack of early intervention. 

WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL SIGNS OF ASF?

•             Severe cases of the disease are characterised by high fever and they die quickly within 2-10 days.

•             Deaths can be as high as 100% and the disease spreads quickly between contact pigs.

•             Other clinical signs may include abortion in pregnant sows, pigs don’t want to eat, depression, difficulty breathing, weakness in the hind legs, vomiting, bleeding from the nose or rectum, diarrhoea and redness of the skin of the ears, abdomen and legs. 

•             Some forms of the virus produce less intense diseases, though deaths can still range from 30-70%.