Investigators suspect that the virus was brought into the country through waste food illegally obtained from a foreign ship passing through nearby Durban harbour. The particular strain of the virus, Type 0, has never before been seen in southern Africa south of the Zambezi River. Bluetongue had never been diagnosed there before. In August the United Kingdom confirmed its first outbreak of classical swine fever since 1986. Although not a threat to humans, swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease.
Authorities believe the disease was reintroduced through contaminated pig meat products.