APA-Pretoria (South Africa) African swine flu has hit parts of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, with health officials warning on Tuesday that small-scale piggery farmers are likely to be worst affected by the disease.
The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Reforms said four cases have been confirmed in the Nelson Mandela Bay, Sarah Bartman and Amathole municipalities, the department said.
The outbreak of the swine flu had also limited the farmers’ chances to trade and export the pigs, according to Zoleka Ntondini, the director of the department.
“It’s a trade-sensitive disease. So exports will be affected,” Ntondin said.
He added: “There will be a long-term effect, especially for small-scale farmers who find it difficult to keep their pigs in enclosed tents.”
And long-term restrictions because of the disease on the piggery industry were inevitable as well, the director said.
Preventing the spread of the disease for small-scale farmers would be a massive challenge, as they did not have proper infrastructure to keep their pigs safe in enclosed pig houses, he said.
NM/jn/APA