Nelson Mandela Bay Moves to Contain Swine Fever Outbreak in Sherwood Area

Municipal authorities confirmed that swift intervention measures were implemented following reports of a sudden mass death of pigs in the settlement earlier this week.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has intensified efforts to contain and manage an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) detected among pigs in the Grogro informal settlement in the Sherwood area, while assuring residents that the disease poses no threat to human health.

Municipal authorities confirmed that swift intervention measures were implemented following reports of a sudden mass death of pigs in the settlement earlier this week.

According to the Municipality's Director for Environmental Health, Dr. Patric Nodwele, municipal health officials were alerted on Monday, 18 May 2026, about unusual pig mortalities originating from the informal settlement.

Initial Suspicions of Poisoning Ruled Out

Dr. Nodwele explained that municipal teams initially suspected the deaths may have resulted from poisoning.

"Upon arrival on site, our initial suspicion was possible poisoning. However, after engaging the State Veterinary Services and conducting the necessary tests, the final confirmed diagnosis was African Swine Fever," Nodwele said.

The confirmation triggered immediate containment and awareness measures by municipal environmental health teams and veterinary authorities.

African Swine Fever Highly Contagious Among Pigs

African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. The disease can spread rapidly among pig populations and has severe economic consequences for livestock farming and food security.

Authorities explained that the virus primarily originates in wild pig populations and can easily spread to domestic pigs, especially in areas where animals roam freely and come into contact with infected wildlife.

Although the disease is deadly for pigs, health officials emphasized that African Swine Fever does not infect humans and cannot be transmitted to people.

Freely Roaming Pigs Suspected in Disease Spread

According to preliminary investigations, freely roaming domestic pigs in the area may have come into contact with infected wild pigs, leading to the outbreak.

Dr. Nodwele said unrestricted movement of animals significantly increases the risk of disease transmission, particularly in informal settlements and rural areas where animal control systems may be limited.

Veterinary experts warn that uncontrolled movement of livestock remains one of the biggest challenges in managing outbreaks of animal diseases such as African Swine Fever.

Municipality Launches Community Awareness Campaigns

In response to the outbreak, Environmental Health Practitioners from the municipality, working together with State Veterinary Services, launched community outreach and awareness campaigns within the affected settlement.

The campaigns focused on educating residents and pig owners about:

• The dangers of African Swine Fever

• The importance of keeping pigs contained

• Improving animal control measures

• Preventing contact between domestic and wild pigs

• Reporting unusual animal deaths quickly

Officials believe community cooperation is essential to preventing the further spread of the disease.

Safe Disposal of Infected Pig Carcasses Conducted

Municipal teams also conducted the safe removal and disposal of affected pig carcasses following the collection of samples for laboratory testing.

Authorities stated that all disposal procedures were carried out according to health and environmental safety regulations to minimise the risk of further contamination.

Proper disposal of infected carcasses is considered critical in containing African Swine Fever outbreaks because the virus can survive for extended periods in contaminated materials and animal products.

Residents Urged Not to Consume Infected Meat

Although African Swine Fever poses no risk to humans, the municipality has strongly warned residents against consuming meat from dead or infected pigs.

Officials explained that consuming meat from diseased animals is unsafe and could create additional public health and food safety concerns even if the virus itself does not infect humans.

The municipality urged communities to immediately report sick or dead pigs to veterinary or municipal authorities rather than attempting to slaughter or distribute affected animals.

Ongoing Monitoring and Containment Measures

Dr. Nodwele said the municipality will continue monitoring the situation closely in collaboration with veterinary authorities to ensure that the outbreak remains contained.

Authorities are expected to continue:

• Disease surveillance

• Community education campaigns

• Monitoring pig movement

• Veterinary inspections

• Rapid response interventions

Officials emphasized that early detection and containment are critical in preventing wider outbreaks that could affect surrounding communities and livestock systems.

African Swine Fever Remains Major Threat to Pig Farming

African Swine Fever has become a major concern globally and across parts of Africa due to its devastating impact on pig farming industries.

The disease can lead to:

• Large-scale pig deaths

• Severe economic losses for farmers

• Trade restrictions

• Food supply disruptions

• Increased livestock management costs

There is currently no commercially available vaccine for African Swine Fever, making prevention, surveillance and biosecurity measures the primary tools for controlling outbreaks.

Importance of Biosecurity and Animal Control

Veterinary experts say the latest outbreak highlights the importance of improving animal control systems and strengthening biosecurity measures, particularly in areas where livestock roam freely.

Basic biosecurity practices include:

• Restricting animal movement

• Preventing contact with wild pigs

• Proper disposal of animal waste and carcasses

• Monitoring animal health regularly

• Reporting suspected infections early

Authorities stress that community participation and awareness remain essential for successful disease prevention and management.

Municipality Seeks to Prevent Wider Spread

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said all efforts are currently focused on preventing further transmission of the virus and protecting surrounding livestock populations.

Officials reassured residents that the outbreak is being actively managed and that collaboration between municipal health teams and veterinary services remains ongoing.

The municipality also reiterated that there is no need for public panic as African Swine Fever does not threaten human health.