Mozambique bans pork trade in Niassa over suspected swine fever

Authorities in Niassa province, northern Mozambique, have imposed a temporary ban on the sale and transport of pork of unknown origin following suspected cases of African swine fever in Lago district. The measure was announced as a precaution after the reported death of at least ten pigs believed to be linked to the disease.

The restrictions include a halt on the movement of pork from Lago to other parts of the province and tighter biosecurity controls aimed at preventing further spread. Officials said the ban will remain in place until laboratory results from blood samples and tissue taken from affected animals are released and analysed by the central veterinary laboratory.

Lago district has also been identified as a hotspot for mpox, another animal origin disease. In response, authorities recently carried out a five day vaccination campaign, immunising more than 22,000 people as part of broader public health and disease control efforts in the area.