African Swine Fever from China to Europe

ifr180928–243
African Swine Fever from China to Europe
Jim Lowe, DVM - University of Illinois

We’ve been hearing a great deal lately about a pig disease called African Swine Fever. Soybean traders in Chicago worry it will have a negative impact on feed usage in China. Todd Gleason has more on the disease and its spread.

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ASF, as the name implies, developed in Africa. It moved from there to Europe about ten years ago says University of Illinois veterinarian Jim Lowe. He was doing some heavy yard work when we caught up with him.

Lowe :32 …it has moved into eastern Europe over time here.

Quote Summary - The virus is interesting because it survives outside the host really well. So, in meat or meat products or tissue it lives. We think the virus was brought to Europe from Africa in some meat. We don’t know for sure, but that is the most likely explanation. About ten years ago it was introduced into the wild boar population in Europe. It has circulated, particularly in eastern Europe starting in Russia. It is endemic in Russia and has moved into eastern Europe over time here.

The spread of African Swine fever can happen pig to pig. However, because it lives in the muscle tissue of the pig, the meat, can provide a source of infection. Right now ASF is causing problems in Russia, Poland, Romania, and most recently Belgium and China. There is no treatment for the disease. The only option is to eradicate the animals.

Lowe :22 …it is almost always infectious.

Quote Summary - The good news is that it takes a big dose. So, it is not very contagious, but it lives outside the host for a long time and there is a tremendous amount of virus in the meat, the muscle tissue itself. So, if we move a few ounces of meat into another spot and some of that ends up in the garage and the pigs eat it, it is almost always infectious.

The most likely route of transmission into the United States would either be in feed ingredients imported from China or on a commercial airliner in somebodies sandwich. African Swine Fever is only a disease of pigs. It does not infect cows, or chickens, or people.