Classical Swine Fever, South Africa , July 15, 2005

Impact Worksheet

Summary:

On July 12, 2005, South Africa reported to the OIE its first occurrence of classical swine fever (CSF) since 1918, following an investigation into the deaths of pigs on two commercial piggeries in Western Cape province.  Disease eradication measures are currently underway and South Africa has halted all exports of live pigs and pig products from the southwestern region of the country. 

South Africa has a relatively small swine industry and is a net importer of pig products.  The vast majority of South Africa ’s swine product exports are sent to other African countries.  Neither the US , Canada , nor Mexico imported live pigs or pig products from South Africa within the past three years.

How extensive is the disease in South Africa , and what was South Africa ’s disease status prior to the outbreak?

On July 12, 2005, South Africa ’s National Department of Agriculture reported an outbreak of CSF to the OIE.  The outbreak, South Africa ’s first reported CSF event since 1918, took place on two commercial piggeries in Worcester, Western Cape province beginning on June 13, 2005.  Stamping out of swine on one of the two infected premises was completed on June 10 and began on the second affected premises on June 12.  Other control measures that are underway include quarantines and disinfection of affected premises.  Exports of pigs and pig products are currently prohibited from southwestern South Africa .  The source of the CSF outbreak is not currently known and is under investigation. 

Sources: OIE Disease Information Report, Business Day (Johannesburg)

What is the CSF situation in the region?

The last documented outbreak of CSF on continental Africa was reported by South Africa in 1918, however CSF is considered to be endemic on the islands of Madagascar and Mauritius which lie to the northeast of eastern South Africa .  Mauritius reported a CSF outbreak to the OIE in 2002.  The only other officially reported CSF event in Africa occurred in Namibia in 1917. 

Source: OIE Handistatus database and Disease Information Reports

What is South Africa ’s place in the international market for swine and pork products?

South Africa ’s stock of live pigs was reported to be approximately 1.6 million head in 2004, representing less than 0.2 percent of world stocks for that year.  During 2003 and 2004, South Africa ’s pig meat production fluctuated around 125,000 metric tons, comprising 0.12 percent of world pig meat production. 

Table 1.  Swine stocks and pig meat production, South Africa , 2003 -- 2004

	2003	2004
	Stocks (# head or mt)	Stocks (# head or mt)	% of World 2004
Swine Stocks (head)	1,620,000	1,620,000	0.17%
Pig Meat Production (mt)	127,050	123,460	0.12%

Source: United Nations FAO

South Africa exports relatively small numbers of live pigs, however its live pig exports rose almost six-fold to 6,505 head between 2002 and 2003.  Over the same two-year period, South Africa ’s pig meat exports dropped from about 1.9 to 1.5 million metric tons, a decrease of 20%.  Exports of live pigs and pig meat by South Africa amounted to less than 0.1% of world pig and pig meat exports for both years.  South Africa is a net importer of pig products with the majority of its imported pig meat originating in Brazil , France , and Belgium .

Table 2:  Exports of live swine and pork products, South Africa , 2002 – 2003

	2002		2003		% of World in 2003
	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)
Live Swine	1,131	89	6,505	943	<0.1	<0.1
Pig Meat	1,860	3,935	1,485	2,975	<0.1	<0.1

Source: United Nations FAO

What are the U.S. imports of swine or pork products from South Africa ?

Neither the US , Canada , nor Mexico imported live pigs or pig meat products from South Africa between 2002 and May of 2005.  

Source: World Trade Atlas

What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in the United States from South Africa ?

During 2004, no passengers arrived in the US on direct flights from South Africa .  The number of people arriving on flights into the US that originated from South Africa is not documented.  The total number of passengers arriving from Africa as whole was 240,752 in 2004. 

As part of APHIS-PPQ’s agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring, 383 air passengers who indicated that their travel originated in South Africa were sampled for items of agricultural interest in fiscal year 2004.  Of these passengers, 9 were found to be carrying pork.  The pork found was cooked, preserved or in sandwich meat.  The passengers with the pork items reported no plans to visit or work on a ranch or farm while in the U.S.

Source:  APHIS-PPQ Agricultural Quarantine Inspection database, USDOT, US Dept of Commerce-Office of Travel and Tourism.

CEI’s plans for follow up:

At this time CEI has no plans to provide additional information on this subject. If you need more information or if you want to comment on this worksheet, you may reply to this message, or contact Wolf Weber (970-494-7222), Cynthia Johnson (970-494-7332) or Elizabeth Williams (970-494-7329).