African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever Latest News

The Assam Government recently banned the inter-District movement of live pigs in the State to arrest the spread of African swine fever, a highly contagious and lethal disease.

About African Swine Fever 

• It is a highly contagious and hemorrhagic viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar.
• The disease does not infect humans (not zoonotic) or other livestock species.
• ASF causes a destructive effect on piggery due to high morbidity and mortality (up to 90-100%).
• Originally found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, ASF is now prevalent in many countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. 
• India notified the first outbreak of ASF virus in January, 2020 in the Northeastern States of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Transmission: 
  • The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. 
  • It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages, or bacon. 
  • Therefore, human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this disease.
  • Infection can occur through direct contact between pigs or boars, but also, for example, through soft ticks in (sub)tropical regions, through contaminated materials or contaminated feed.
• Symptoms: The clinical symptoms can look very much like those of classical swine fever: fever, weak pigs, lack of appetite, inflamed eye mucous membranes, red skin, (bloody) diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Prevention: Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine available against ASF, so prevention by adopting strict biosecurity measures, such as culling the animals, is the only way to prevent ASF.

Source: TH

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