tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Johannesburg - Mpumalanga farmers were on Tuesday warned they face a swine flu threat.
Farmers were being told to keep uninfected animals away from infected pigs to curb the spread of the virus, eMbalenhle municipality spokesperson Themba Motlhankana said in a statement.
In February about 100 pigs infected with the virus at eMbalenhle extension 10 died and were thrown into a local stream. This may have caused the virus to spread, as the stream was in a grazing area.
The stream was subsequently disinfected.
"Livestock owners are advised not to discard carcasses at any convenient space."
Arrangements could be made with the municipality and the Mpumalanga veterinary services to slaughter and bury infected animals.
African swine flu exists in wild pigs and can be transmitted through close contact. Motlhankana said symptoms varied, including high fever, reddening of the ears, vomiting, and coughing.
The virus could not be passed on to humans.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Mpuma-farmers-warned-of-swine-flu-threat-20120306
Farmers were being told to keep uninfected animals away from infected pigs to curb the spread of the virus, eMbalenhle municipality spokesperson Themba Motlhankana said in a statement.
In February about 100 pigs infected with the virus at eMbalenhle extension 10 died and were thrown into a local stream. This may have caused the virus to spread, as the stream was in a grazing area.
The stream was subsequently disinfected.
"Livestock owners are advised not to discard carcasses at any convenient space."
Arrangements could be made with the municipality and the Mpumalanga veterinary services to slaughter and bury infected animals.
African swine flu exists in wild pigs and can be transmitted through close contact. Motlhankana said symptoms varied, including high fever, reddening of the ears, vomiting, and coughing.
The virus could not be passed on to humans.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Mpuma-farmers-warned-of-swine-flu-threat-20120306