AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF)

May 8, 2020

Since February 2020, over 2,900 pigs have died in the Assam due to African Swine Fever (ASF). This is the first time that an ASF outbreak has been reported in India.

About:

What is it? African swine fever is a highly infectious viral disease that affects pigs, warthogs, bush pigs, European wild boar and American wild pigs.
Cause: It is caused by African swine fever virus, member of the Asfarviridae family.
Transmission: Transmission can occur either directly contact of sick and healthy animals, and indirectly through contaminated feed, or on contaminated clothing, vehicles or as other fomites.
Geographical Distribution: ASF is present in wild and/or domestic pigs in regions of Asia, Europe and Africa. ASF Virus is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. It has been seen in South America and the Caribbean but has been eradicated.
Symptoms: The infected animals get high haemorrhagic fever, lose of appetite, diarrhoea, reddening of the skin at extremities, chest and abdomen and die in 2-10 days.
Prevention: There is no effective vaccine to protect pigs from the virus. No vaccine exists and culling (Slaughtering) is often the only effective way.
Impact on Humans: Unlike the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu, the ASF virus doesn’t infect humans.