Being a classic hemorrhagic fever caused by unique virus, African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal disease which affects pig farming.
As pig farming ranges from family to highly sophisticated intensive farming, ASF outbreak lead to total ban of pork selling and abattoirs, butcheries and pork processing factories close leading to unemployment.
Disease management
Successive control of the disease depend on rapid recognition and diagnosis of the disease together with rapid and effective action to contain spread and eliminate in possible shortest time. An action plan with legislation is required to counter out break immediately.
Similarly, central role of pig owners and his acceptance to control measures is emphasised and the sooner ASF is suspected, the less likely it is to spread. Infected pigs share effective amounts of virus before developing disease signs and damage is greatly limited when disease signs are recognised and reported to ensure it does not leave one farm to another.
Quarantine the ASF suspected area and this depends on farming operation type. People leaving quarantined area must be disinfected. The diagnosis is confirmed by submission of samples to laboratory and also samples of spleen and lymph node are tested for naturally dying pigs.
Furthermore confirmed diagnosis, kill all infected and in contact pigs and properly dispose off the dead bodies. Killing of pigs is done humanly and owners are compensated and the place is disinfected immediately and left without pigs for a prescribed period of time. Afterwards introduce 10% of pig stocking rate to ensure premises are free of ASF virus.
Allow pigs to range freely throughout premises and observe them for 6 weeks and after the period elapse, restock normally in case no ASF sign is detected. To manage a ban on pork, sale pigs from known uninfected farms.
Control measures fail due to delay diagnosis, failure to compensate, failure to control pig movement due to poor communication, lack of resources, poor motivation of officials, bureaucratic delays and logistical problems.
Control disease by pig proof premises, educate farmers, place import regulation and make awareness programme to stake holders and place a contingence plan.
