Aizawl, 5 April : After more than 80 pigs died in south Mizoram's Lunglei district over the last two weeks, the cause of their death has been suspected to be the African Swine Fever (ASF). The first death was reported on March 21, according to officials, after which veterinary officers were sent to the district to ascertain the cause. The confirmatory test for ASF is yet to be done at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Madhya Pradesh, but the deaths have triggered fears in the state government which has already sounded alert for the disease.
African Swine Fever is a deathly and contagious viral disease which affects both domestic as well as wild pigs of all ages. The disease is not a threat to human health as it cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans. The case fatality ratio (CFR) of the disease is almost 100 per cent and the disease can be transmitted through direct contact with the infected pig (alive or dead) or the wild pig (alive or dead), indirect contact through consumption of contaminated food waste, garbage by the swine.
~ Hindustan Times