A herd of pigs were killed by an African Swine Fever outbreak in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
Authorities say pigs were dying in large numbers at the Grogro informal settlement, when the Municipality sent its health department to inspect the area.
Residents were convinced their animals were poisoned, until Dr Patrick Nodwele, Director of Environmental Health in the City, sent his team.
Nodwele said tests from the State Vet Services confirmed African Swine Fever was the cause of death.
“The virus mainly originated from wild pigs and can spread rapidly among domestic ones.”
He suspects pigs might have come into contact.
The Municipality has alerted the community to contain pigs, improve control measures and improve further spread of the disease.
Although the disease is not a threat to humans, the Municipality has urged residents not to consume meat from dead or infected pigs.
Picture: Supplied