By Michelle van der Spuy, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Since a possible outbreak of African swine fever has recently been reported in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape, 164 pigs have died, presumably of the dreaded disease.

Pig carcasses were spotted in and around a kraal next to the informal settlement in Bredasdorp on 30 July, according to a report (read the report below) from the Cape Agulhas Municipality. The incident was reported to the municipality the same afternoon. Municipal officials found 24 carcasses at the scene.

The next day, six more carcasses were found. The day after that, five more were found. This means 35 pigs died within three days. On 2 and 3 August, 58 pigs died and on 4 and 5 August, another 45. By 6 August, a total of 164 pigs had died.

The Overberg District Municipality’s Disaster Management and Environmental Services Department and the State Veterinary Service were contacted on the evening of 30 July.

The State Veterinarian said the carcasses had to be buried and the scene where the carcasses were found would be investigated the next day.

On 31 July, a preliminary investigation by the Veterinary Service found the deaths were likely caused by African swine fever. Two of the carcasses were sent to laboratories in Stellenbosch and Pretoria for post-mortem and virological tests respectively. Preliminary feedback indicated this disease as a strong possible cause of the deaths.

After a meeting on 1 August, it was decided to immediately quarantine the kraal where the carcasses were found, monitor it around the clock, restrict access to the pigs by their owners, implement sanitation protocols and await the results of the tests.

Also read: African swine fever suspected in Bredasdorp

During the weekend of 2-3 August, the municipality, in collaboration with the Animal Anti-Cruelty League Bredasdorp, removed 58 carcasses from the camp. Five pigs were euthanised with the permission of their owners.

Meanwhile, carcasses are being removed from the camp daily and representatives from the Animal Anti-Cruelty League Bredasdorp, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture are on scene to monitor the situation.

The NSPCA has noticed several malnourished pigs in the camp. According to the report, the owners of these pigs are refusing to speak to the NSPCA. The report also indicates that some of the pig farmers are becoming “uneasy” and that measures are now being implemented to protect representatives and officials on the scene.

The Cape Agulhas Municipality issued a public notice on 2 August stating there is a strong possibility that pigs in Bredasdorp have contracted the disease.

A quarantine camp has since been set up with the cooperation of the State Veterinary Service and according to the municipality’s notice, all stray and loose pigs are being moved to the camp with the help of additional staff who have been deployed to help.

The municipality requests that pigs not be moved from one area to another, nor sold or slaughtered from the affected area. The public is requested to report any sick or dead pigs to its emergency numbers 028 425 5500 or 082 457 1774.