African swine Fever (ASF)

What is it?

African Swine Fever is a deadly viral disease that is contagious to other swine species but not to humans. it is different to classical swine fever, 

  • CSF (Classical Swine Fever) = RNA virus
  • ASF (African Swine Fever) = DNA virus

The last outbreak was the year 2000 where 16 farms were affected. 

Symptoms 

  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lack of energy
  • Sudden death
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Red or dark skin – particularly on ears and nose
  • Laboured breathing and coughing
  • Abortion in pregnant sows
  • Discharge
  • Weakness
  • Unsteady gait
  • Depending on the severity of the viral infection depends if the pigs show many or any symptoms at all.
    • Can go unnoticed for months if it is an acute infection.

How does it spread?

  • Direct contact with an infected swine, faeces, body fluids etc.
  • indirect contact with contaminated equipment, vehicles or people who work closely with the infected animals
  • pigs eating infected meat or pig feed
    • the virus can survive in and on meat products including frozen and cured products for several years
  • aerosol
  • flies
  • ticks
  • in utero

Treatment, Prevention & Control

Treatment

There is no treatment that you can give infected pigs, the only treatment is culling the infected pigs and then a thorough deep clean with disinfectant to eradicate the lase of the disease and prevent spreading. It is not until there have been no new cases in the area, the infected pigs have been killed and the premises has adequately been cleaned and disinfected will the restriction be lifted

Prevention

  • Disposal of waste is done properly
  • Policing illegal imports of live pigs and pork products from countries that is is prevalent
  • Following key biosecurity principles on the farm
    • Wearing protective clothing and boots
    • Cleaning and disinfecting equipment including ant vehicles on the farm
    • Disposing of food properly
      • It is illegal to feed domestic or catered food to pigs or wild boar due to the risk of spreading disease

Control

  • Early detection – humane killing of infected with proper disposal
  • Thorough cleaning and disinfection of all equipment and housing
  • Zoning compartments
  • Movement controls
  • Surveillance and details epidemiology investigations
  • Strict biosecurity measures
  • Quarantine farms/ areas on farms
    • Do risk assessments and testing before lifting restrictions

 

It is a notifiable disease?

Yes – once a confirmation is diagnosed WOAH, DEFRA, AHDB and APHA needs to be notified as it is a disease that affects farm animals and those that may be transported for food.

  • If you suspect ASF infection notify APHA
  • In England – Defra rural help services = 03000 200 301
  • In wales = 0300 303 8268
  • In Scotland = local field services office
  • Failure to notify the relevant organisations is an offence
    • Whether it is confirmed or suspected
    • Once notified it is also an offence to move any pigs or equipment that is potentially infected
    • Once confirmed APHA will place the farm under strict restrictions to prevent further spread and sometimes may even place surveillance zones