African swine fever

In News: The whole state of Punjab had already been declared as “controlled area” and a ban on inter-district and inter-state movement of any pig or its belongings has been imposed.

• Earlier African Swine Fever has been confirmed for the first time, at a private pig farm in Kerala, after more than 15 pigs on the farm had died due to the disease in the last ten days.

About African Swine Fever (ASF):

• Cause: Large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family. Only virus with a double-stranded DNA genome known to be transmitted by arthropods.
• Affects domestic & wild pigs.
• Symptoms: Includes weight loss, intermittent fever, respiratory signs, chronic skin ulcers & arthritis. Acute forms are characterised by anorexia, loss of appetite & haemorrhages in the skin.
• Transmission: Through natural hosts (warthogs, bushpigs & ticks) acting as vectors & by direct/indirect contact with infected pigs, their faeces & body fluids.
• Vaccination: No approved vaccine yet.
• Geographical Distribution: First detected in Kenya in 1909 & currently found in Asia, Europe & Africa.
• Public Health Risk: Not risky for humans.

Preventive Steps:

• For the prevention of the disease in these areas, restrictions under the provisions of The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009 and the National Action Plan for Control, Containment and Eradication of African Swine Fever (June 2020) have been imposed.
• Application of classic sanitary measures, early detection & humane killing of animals.
• Thorough disinfection, stricter biosecurity norms & restricted supply from affected areas.

Source: The Hindu