E Cape pig farmers concerned over African swine fever outbreak
Farmers are calling for urgent government intervention to prevent further spread of the disease.
Small-scale pig farmers in the Eastern Cape's Ugie area are worried about the outbreak of African swine fever, as many of their animals are dying. Some farmers have already begun to cull their pigs before the disease becomes apparent. These small-scale farmers, who rely on livestock for their livelihood, are pleading with the government to take immediate action to stop the spread of the fever.
Xolisa Tshongolo, a small-scale pig farmer, stated, "Our pigs have been losing weight, refusing to eat, and running away into the bush. When we try to bring them back, they appear mentally disturbed." The government has sent veterinary experts to investigate the situation. Atule Joka, spokesperson for the Provincial Agriculture Department, explained that samples have been collected and sent to a laboratory for confirmation. The disease is suspected to be African swine fever due to its rapid spread and high mortality rate.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
