A highly contagious and deadly swine disease, the African Swine Fever, has been reported in Kerala's Thrissur district.
"The disease was confirmed in the pigs owned by Kuttalapuzha Babu of Veliyanthara in the 14th ward. The district Collector has directed the district animal husbandry officer to cull the pigs and bury them," according to an official release quoted by PTI.
The area within a one-kilometre radius of the affected farm has been declared a disease-affected area, and the area within a 10-km radius has been declared a disease surveillance area.
What is African Swine Fever?
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by a virus that does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. ASF can spread rapidly through direct contact between infected and healthy pigs, as well as through contaminated feed, equipment, and even humans. The disease causes high fever, loss of appetite, and internal bleeding, often resulting in high mortality rates among infected pigs.
Can it spread to humans?
Since it is a disease that affects only pigs, the possibility of transmission to other animals or humans is low, authorities have informed.
It is not known to cause disease in humans, and there is no evidence that humans can contract the disease from pigs or pork products. However, humans can inadvertently spread the disease causing virus through contaminated clothing, equipment, or vehicles, which can infect susceptible pigs. Strict biosecurity measures and proper handling of infected pigs and pork products are essential to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever among pig populations and safeguard the pork industry.
