African Swine Fever
Why in news : 50 pigs were culled in IDUKKI district, Kerala due to detection of African swine fever in the region.
What is African swine fever :
- African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large, double-stranded DNA virus in the Asfarviridae family.[1] It is the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF).
- It is a highly contagious and fatal animal disease that infects pigs and it causes hemorrhagic fever in domestic and wild pigs.
- The first outbreak of ASF was reported in 1907.
- It does not cause disease in humans. So it is not a direct threat to the human beings.
- ASF is a disease listed in the world organisation for Animal Health (OIE)’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
Signs and symptoms :
- High fever
- Loss of apetite
- Depression
- In white- skinned pigs, the extremities turn blueish-purple and hemorrhages become apparent on the ears and abdomen.
- Shivering, abnormal breathing and coughing.
- In pregnant sows, spontaneous abortions occur.
Spread :
- The virus can be spread by ticks, but also by swine eating pork products that contain the virus.
- The National Pig Association, a UK industry body, states[19] that the virus can also be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with infected pigs, faeces or body fluids.
Vaccine research :
- Vietnam successfully produced the first vaccine against African swine fever on June 1, 2022.
SYLLABUS : PRELIMS, SCIENCE – HEALTH AND DISEASES.