The veterinary authorities in Benguela remain vigilant regarding the risk of possible cases of African swine fever (ASF), following the occurrence of outbreaks of the disease in the neighboring province of Huíla, said yesterday the director of Agriculture, José Gomes da Silva. African swine fever (ASF) is a viral disease that poses no risk to human health, but only affects pigs, as it is highly transmissible and leads to high mortality and morbidity rates.
Last February, the municipality of Humpata was devastated by ASF, which, despite being controlled by the Huíla authorities, raised the alert status of the Benguela Veterinary Services Institute, in an attempt to prevent pigs originating from that province from entering the region. . Speaking to ANGOP, the director of the Provincial Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Office, José Gomes da Silva, guarantees that African swine fever has been eradicated in Benguela.
Still, he does not rule out the imminent risk of the disease returning to the province if the necessary measures are not applied. For the person responsible, although the Institute of Veterinary Services of Huíla has prohibited the sale and consumption of pork and its derivatives in the municipality of Humpata, Benguela has reinforced surveillance to prevent the introduction of the disease in the locality.