Table of Contents
Is ASF harmful to dogs?
The risk of a dog being the source of ASF virus entry to the US are very low, but it makes sense to take basic measures like this, since a single case of ASF in the US would have devastating effects on animal health, animal welfare and the economy.
Can African swine fever affect other animals?
What animals get African swine fever? ASF affects members of the pig family, including domesticated swine, wild boars, feral swine, warthogs, bush pigs, and giant forest hogs.
How would a vet treat ASF?
There is no treatment or vaccine available for this disease. The only way to stop this disease is to depopulate all affected or exposed swine herds.
Can humans carry African swine fever?
ASF can be spread through ticks, live or dead pigs and pork products, contaminated feed and by humans. In fact, humans can carry the virus on their shoes or clothing, which means traveling from a country that has African swine fever to one that does not could lead to new outbreaks without proper biosecurity practices.
What is African swine fever?
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, which is responsible for serious economic and production losses. It is caused by a large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family, which also infects ticks of the genus Ornithodoros.
How did ASF start?
African swine fever (ASF) was discovered by Montgomery in Kenya in 1921, as a new disease causing high mortalities in recently imported European pigs. Following decades ASF was observed in several Sub-Saharan countries.
Where is African swine fever now?
Current Situation (October 2020) The disease is also present in several countries in Eastern Europe and also in Asia where it has been found in China, Hong Kong, Mongolia , Vietnam and North Korea. In affected areas the disease has been confirmed in wild boar, as well as on farms, smallholdings and in pet pigs.