Explained: What is African Swine Fever? The Deadly Disease Killing Pigs In Mizoram After Outbreak In China

African Swine Fever has been reported for the first in the country since it affected the pig populations in China, which is the largest exporter and consumer of pork.

New Delhi: With the Covid-19 pandemic already posing a threat to our wellbeing, another disease related to livestock namely African Swine Fever (ASF) have emerged in Mizoram affecting as many as 10 out of the total 11 districts.

The disease has killed more than 9,000 pigs in a little over three months, according to states animal husbandry and veterinary science department. The data released by the department on Sunday revealed at least 152 villages or local areas in 10 districts have been presently affected by the outbreak leaving a dent of over Rs. 36.68 crore, as per PTI.

 “Unusual death” of 699 pigs has been reported from even outside ASF-infected areas, according to the department. The data also said that 1,078 pigs have been culled so far to prevent the disease from spreading further.

When is the disease detected?

The report of the first pig’s death was reported on March 21 at Lungsen village in south Mizoram's Lunglei district bordering Bangladesh. Mizoram is surrounded by states of Assam, Manipur, and Tripura and also shares international boundaries with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

ASF is a severe viral disease with a case fatality rate (CFR) of almost 100 per cent . 

What is African Swine Fever?

It is to be noted that African Swine Fever (ASF) does not affect humans, but it can be harmful for pigs. The diease affecting wild and domestic swines causes an acute haemorrhagic fever. It has been reported for the first in the country since it affected the pig populations in China, which is the largest exporter and consumer of pork. The highly contagious and viral disease has caused sudden deaths in pigs. The animals have exhibited symptoms including high fever, depression, anorexia, loss of appetite, haemorrhages in the skin, vomiting and diarrhoea among others.

It is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans, say experts. No vaccine is yet developed for the virus. However, it is crucial to determine the disease through laboratory testing and it is differentiated from Classical Swine Fever (CSF), whose signs may appear similar to ASF.

How did the current outbreak start?

According to the latest update issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the current outbreak of ASF has also impacted countries including China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Republic of Korea and Indonesia.

In 2018, the first ASF outbreak was confirmed in China which led to the killing of more than 1 million pigs being culled so far. In Vietnam, the disease was confirmed in 2019 and since then over 6 million pigs have been culled.

It is believed that ASF found way into India from Tibet and entered into Arunachal Pradesh and travelled to Assam, the state with the highest population of pigs in the country. However, the route of infection is still not confirmed.