WHAT IS AFRICAN SWINE FEVER?
African swine fever (ASF) is viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boars of all ages. ASF is not dangerous for people but they can transmit the virus with footwear, clothing, agricultural, and hunting equipment.
THERE IS NO VACCINE OR CURE!
If disease enters into your herd, it will kill all pigs. The disease can cause severe economic consequences for farmers and the entire country’s economy.
WAYS OF TRANSMISSION
The most important ways of transmission are:
• By direct contact between sick and healthy animals, or by carcasses of dead animals;
• By indirect transmission through contaminated environment, feed and feed waste, equipment, vehicles and clothing.
WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL SIGNS OF THE DISEASE?
HOW TO YOU PROTECT YOUR ANIMALS?
At the onset, there are no specific clinical signs. Infected pigs will have high temperature and loss of appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Fever (40.5-42˚C), weakness, loss of appetite.
• Discharge from the nose and eyes, (may be bloody).
• Redness or blue-violet discoloration and bleeding of the skin in the area of the ears, abdomen and legs.
• Bloody feces.
•Difficulty moving.
• Abortion.
• Pigs usually die within a week of the onset of clinical signs.
Compliance with veterinary legislation and improved biosecurity measures, animal identification and registration, movement control and are the most reliable way to prevent the introduction of the ASF virus into pig farm.
• Buy pigs only from registered sources, accompanied with proper health certificate.
• Do not feed your pigs with kitchen waste. It is forbidden! It can pose a high risk of introducing disease to your farm and is an important way of spreading the disease! Never do it!
• Keep pigs in a way to avoid contact with wild boars or other animals. Domestic pigs must not be kept free, outside the fenced area.
• Clean and disinfect farm and equipment regularly.
• Use separate foot wear and clothes for your farm. Do not use them outside your farm!
• Establish disinfection barrier at the entrances of your stable
(simple footbaths with sponges soaked in a suitable disinfectant).
• Keep visitors away from your farm.
• Do not use water from open sources for pigs.
• Freshly collected grass and vegetables may be contaminated with virus from the wild boars.
• Follow other rules given by veterinary authorities.
• If you are hunter, pay special attention: avoid any direct or indirect contact of your pigs with hunted wild boar carcass.