African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine

Indigenous African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine Developed by ICAR Bolsters India's Biosecurity.

About the Vaccine

• The vaccine is recommended for healthy pigs aged above eight weeks. It is administered through a 1 mL intramuscular injection, followed by a booster dose 14 days after the first vaccination.
• The indigenously developed vaccine is expected to reduce pig mortality, limit economic losses and improve the livelihoods of pig farmers across India.

African Swine Fever

• African Swine Fever is a highly contagious transboundary animal disease caused by the African Swine Fever Virus. It affects domestic pigs and wild boar but does not infect humans.
• The disease was first identified in Kenya in 1909 and has since spread across Africa, Europe and Asia.
• In India, it was first detected in 2020 and later spread to several States and Union Territories, causing large-scale pig deaths, disruption of pig farming, restrictions on animal movement and trade, and serious livelihood losses, particularly in the North-Eastern region.
• ASF spreads through direct contact with infected pigs, contaminated pork products, wild boar and soft ticks.
• Its major symptoms include high fever and haemorrhages, while the mortality rate may reach nearly 100%, making it one of the most destructive diseases affecting pigs.