African Swine Fever

African swine fever (ASF) is a viral disease that causes severe bleeding and death in both wild and domestic pigs. It cannot make people sick and does not pose a risk to human health or food products. It spreads easily from sick pigs to healthy pigs. 

ASF was first discovered in Kenya in 1921 and is now found in most of sub-Saharan Africa and some areas of West Africa. Currently it is also found in areas of Eastern Europe, Belgium, China, and Vietnam. It has never been found in the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

There is no vaccine, treatment, or cure for ASF. Pigs that become sick with African Swine Fever may display the following:

• High fever
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
• Discharge around the eyes
• Pregnancy loss, still births, and weak litters
• Reddening or darkening of the skin, particularly ears and snout
• Vomiting
• Weakness and unwillingness to stand

However, many different diseases in pigs can cause these signs and you cannot tell if a sick pig has ASF just by looking at it. A laboratory test is needed to confirm if a pig is sick with ASF. Therefore anyone who suspects that a pig (or pigs) under their care has ASF should immediately contact a Federal or State Animal Health Official.