Ngaka Modiri Molema Animal Health Technicians from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held the 2nd mini-congress on Wednesday, 14 August 2019 with the aim of improving their knowledge around Porcine/ Pig Diseases and to sharpen their skills on animal health issues. This comes after the increase of outbreaks of the African Swine Fever (ASF) that led to the quarantine of farms that were affected in and around April 2019.
Animal health technicians fulfil an important task with regard to the health of both the animal and human population in South Africa and are mainly responsible for the maintenance of primary animal health care.
Dr Simon Mosenogi, the Deputy Director for Veterinary Animal Health said “this congress will enable technical staff to be better equipped to assist clients in the event of outbreaks and disease prevention as it is what we as veterinary service advocate for at all time. This recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) came at a time when we were prepared and had put effective control measures in place. I am happy that we have made significant progress in ensuring that we have capacity to deal with outbreaks.”
Agriculture and Rural Development Deputy Director for Export and Import, Dr Rapule Mphuthi spoke extensively on the importance of vaccination and the early treatment programme for disease control of various pig illnesses that affect production and the economic aspect of pig farming. “It is important that when animal health technicians visit a farm for a reported case, they take the necessary precaution that will enable them to correctly diagnose diseases and record things such as temperature which may be regarded as insignificant, however, such information help in tracking disease patterns. It is also important to note that there are diseases that cannot be managed with treatments and therefore the animals would have to be culled,” Mphuthi said.
In addition, South African Pork Producers Association (SAPPO), Dr Peter Evans presented on the Common Porcine Disease of Note and disease prevention strategies that are often neglected.
He said that strict bio-security measures can prevent the biggest and heaviest diseases that affect pigs. “There is no vaccine or cure for ASF thus simple measures such as changing clothing and sanitising when entering a farm can prevent the spread of disease that may have been picked up from other infected pigs,” Evans said.
The department’s Veterinary Services directorate urges farmers to be vigilant and to report any sudden illness and deaths of their pigs to the local state veterinarian.
This training on animal disease prevention and control will continue at other three districts of the province.
Issued by the Communication Services Directorate
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