A statement released by the Gauteng province indicating that the Free State was one of three provinces where cases of swine flu have been recorded, is false.
“The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has learnt with dismay of false reports that the province is currently experiencing an outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF). The statement was circulated widely through various media platforms,” says Thembeni Nxangisa, the Free State MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development.
He wishes to assure stakeholders in the sector, farmers and farming communities that not a single case of ASF has been detected or confirmed in the Free State.
Nxangisa says these statements are misleading, confusing, and create unnecessary panic amongst the broader farming communities.
He added that if there are any cases reported, his department will not hesitate to act swiftly in addressing such. “The veterinary personnel distributed across the province remain vigilant and will continue to implement precautionary measures,” he says.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic pigs, transmitted by wild pigs and feeding of swill, with the mortality rate amongst domestic pigs able to reach 100%. The disease poses no danger to human health, but has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy.
