African Swine Fever: Causes, Transmission and Indian Significance

Category: Environment & Ecology → Animal Diseases → Veterinary Science

What is African Swine Fever?

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting:

  • Domestic pigs

  • Wild pigs

It does not normally infect humans.

Causative Agent

  • African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV)

  • Family: Asfarviridae

  • Genus: Asfivirus

Symptoms

  • High fever

  • Haemorrhages

  • Weakness

  • Internal bleeding

  • High mortality

Mortality can approach 100% in severe outbreaks.

India

  • First detected in India in 2020, initially in Assam.

  • It has subsequently affected several states.

  • The disease has significant implications for India's pig farming sector, particularly in the Northeast.

2026 Significance

ICAR developed an indigenous ASF vaccine, an important development for India's animal-health biosecurity.

UPSC Key Pointers

  • ASF → pigs

  • Viral disease

  • Human disease? → No

  • Vector/reservoir ecology → wild and domestic suids, soft ticks can play a role in transmission.

  • India → first reported in 2020.