Pig disease could be disaster
2005-04-07
A LARGE commercial piggery at Klapmuts and many small farmers in the Paarl/Wellington area have been hard hit by the outbreak of blue ear pig disease.
More than 8000 pigs have already been positively identified and are being slaughtered and incinerated.
Since the first outbreak of the virus in the Boland last year, and the slaughtering of 3 700 infected pigs, veterinary services of the department of agriculture have continued their surveillance.
Signs of the virus were again found in March this year. Nearly 20 000 pigs have since been tested on 71 farms in the Boland and 8000 pigs were found to be infected.
The movement of animals in the municipal areas of Drakenstein, as well as Philippi, Joostenberg and Tierfontein near Malmesbury, has now been restricted.
The disease spreads through the air. It causes litters to be aborted, premature or still-born. Respiratory problems cause the blue ears.
“The virus presents no danger to humans, even if they have eaten infected pork,” a spokesman said.
“The financial repercussions for farmers, however, are devastating.”
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