Eastern Cape vets struggle to contain swine fever
EASTERN CAPE - Eastern Cape veterinary services are struggling to contain the swine fever in the province.The disease has now been detected at Uitenhage in the Nelson Mandela Metro and about 1 000 pigs will be culled this week, much to the disapproval of the owners.
Road blocks have been set up around KwaNobuhle in Uitenhage in an effort to contain the swine fever in the area. However, this measure does not seem to work as the disease has continued to spread throughout the province over the past seven months.
Nomthunzi Tshotsha, a pig owner, said: "The message we received was that we should kill our pigs because they have a disease." Despite being made aware of the dangers of swine fever, it is believed that owners still slaughter their pigs to eat them.
"We eat them because we are sure there is nothing wrong with them. What makes me say that is because I buy very expensive medicine at R140 and inject my pigs every six months. They will never be ill. Even when I look at them now on their skin they are clean and healthy," Tshoza said.
Source: SABC News
15 March 2006
2 minute read
