Veterinary authorities in South Africa and the Philippines reported new African swine fever (ASF) activity in late September 2026. Four outbreaks have been confirmed in the City of Tshwane, near Pretoria, and surveillance in Tabuk City, Kalinga province, now covers 18 villages.
Tshwane, South Africa
Gauteng officials have confirmed four ASF outbreaks in Tshwane, concentrated in the north of Pretoria. The first was detected in August 2026. Affected areas include Mamelodi East, Haakdoornboom, Grootvlei, and Lusthof, where two more suspected outbreaks were under investigation as of September 28.
Live pigs can now only be moved out of the affected zones with a permit. Movement controls also apply in Vastfontein, Bultfontein, Rooiwal, Waterval, Pyramid Estate, and Wallmansthal. Dr. Farah Abdool-Khader, Chief State Veterinarian for Animal Health in Pretoria, has asked farmers to report suspected cases immediately.
Officials listed the signs farmers should watch for: high fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, breathing difficulty, skin discoloration, bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, hind leg weakness, abortion in pregnant sows, and sudden death.
Tabuk City, Philippines
In Tabuk City, about 580 pigs have been affected. Surveillance covers 18 of the city’s 43 barangays. Barangay Cabaruan was taken off the list after five months without new cases.
“Early notification is vital to containing the viral disease,” said Carmen Wanas, the Tabuk City Veterinarian. Field teams are inspecting farms, running rapid tests, and collecting blood samples for laboratory confirmation. Confirmed cases lead to culling, sanitization of premises, and disinfection. The Department of Agriculture pays affected farmers PHP 4,000 per weanling, PHP 8,000 per grower or finisher, and PHP 12,000 per breeding sow.
Other regions
The Swine Health Information Center’s Global Swine Disease Monitoring Report for September 2026 notes more reports of ASF in domestic pigs in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland. It also tracks ongoing outbreaks in the Dominican Republic and continued activity in Asia and Africa.
Laboratory confirmation
There is no widely available vaccine or treatment for ASF, so control depends on detecting cases early, restricting movement, culling infected herds, and enforcing biosecurity. ASF looks clinically similar to other hemorrhagic diseases of pigs, including classical swine fever, so a laboratory test is needed to confirm it.
Real-time PCR is the standard method. It detects ASF virus DNA in blood and tissue within hours and can identify infected animals before severe signs appear. It is also used in the surveillance needed to show that an area is free of the virus.
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