MEDIA STATEMENT
Media Houses
Date: Friday,09 April 2021
NORTH WEST CONFIRMS A CASE OF AFRICAN SWINE FLU
There has been a registered outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Wilgeboom in a ZA registered compartment (ZA10/20A) in Potchefstroom. The diagnosis was confirmed from tissue samples that were collected from a post mortem that was conducted on the farm by a Private Veterinarian. Initially an action plan that was intended to separate the infected houses from the number of the non-infected houses was designed. The plan had intended to slaughter healthy pigs at an abattoir and de-bone the meat and also heat treat it before it could be used for consumption.
This process of de-boning and heat treatment would have killed the virus and also salvage much of the animals on the farm. In this plan the abattoir would have given to Veterinary authorities their protocol on how workers, cleaning and storage was going to happen because of the risk associated with the origin of the animals.
Before the weekend of the 31st March, the Veterinary authorities received information that the disease had extended into the previously non-infected houses of the farm and mortalities were happening. Veterinary authorities received laboratory results of confirmed positive cases that were tested at OVI laboratory. This necessitated a change of the whole plan that was in place. The situation at the farm slowly developed to be dire because the initial plan was also going to bring the much needed financial injection into the farm which has been under quarantine for the past month. Not being able to remove animals as they reach mature age also created challenges with space.
The Provincial Disaster Management Centre was invited to participate as the situation was slowly developing to a crisis situation. There were plan that were developed to prepare for a crisis situation and much assistance was received from the Provincial Disaster Management Centre.
The Department made commitment to assist with facilitating authorizations that were necessary to avoid pollution and degradation of the environment. After discussions at the PDMC it was agreed that an approved disposal site will be used for disposal of waste. This was after an advise from the Provincial Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and appropriate approval was acquired from national Department of Forestry and Fisheries and Environment for a once permission for North West Veterinary Services to dispose the carcasses in a legal manner. The Department facilitated the required permission for the carcasses to be transported to Gauteng. South African Pig Producers Organization (SAPPO) assisted the farm during the outbreak in various ways. The Department is maintaining quarantine at the farm as a control measure. These measures will continue until the farmer decides
For more information contact Dr LangaMadyibi on 071 854 2016: Director Veterinary Services
Issued by the Communication Services Directorate
Enquiries: EmeldaSetlhako
Tel: 018 389 5684/Cell: 060 745 4020
Email: ESetlhako@nwpg.gov.za
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