Abstract:
Classical swine fever (CSF) has the ability to spread over large distances when
human intervention, such as illegal swill feeding facilitates its movement. This was
apparent during 2005 when CSF appeared in South Africa (SA) after an absence of
87 years. In this review various newly published developments in terms of the
diagnosis of the disease and vaccination are described and applied to situations
similar to SA. The role of wildlife such as feral pigs and European wild boar in the
dissemination and maintenance of CSF virus are discussed and the dearth of
knowledge on the potential of other wild pigs species prevalent on southern Africa
noted. The modes of spread and control measures to prevent introduction as well as
during outbreaks are discussed.