Guwahati, June 05: Even as Mizoram is witnessing one of the worst outbreaks of African Swine Fever, new cases of African Swine Flu is emerging from Manipur. On June 2, at least 20 pigs died of African Swine Flu in Manipur’s Kamjong district.
Now that both African Swine Fever and Swine Flu have been detected in different northeastern states, it is important to know the difference between the two. So let’s find out the differences so that we are in a better position to understand the diseases.
What does swine fever mean?
A highly contagious disease of swine that is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and usually occurs in a fatal acute form that resembles hog cholera and is marked especially by fever, anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, and bleeding internally and under the skin.
African Swine Fever
What is it?
African Swine Fever is a contagious viral disease that affects both wild and domestic pigs. It spreads rapidly through contact with infected animals or even contaminated trucks, clothing, and food. No vaccines are available for ASF.
ASF cases have surfaced in Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura, and even parts of Nagaland and Manipur.
The recent outbreak comes only a few months after Mizoram witnessed a decline in the spate of ASF cases. Last year, over 33,000 pigs died in Mizoram due to ASF.
According to the state department’s data, a maximum of these cases (376) were reported in the Aizawl district, while other confirmed cases were reported from Champai, Lunglei, and Saitual districts.
According to the official from the Mizoram animal husbandry department, the outbreak occurred last year as a result of infected pigs being imported from Bangladesh.
In Sikkim, the government has issued area-specific notifications in the Namchi, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Mangan districts restricting the entry of live pigs and pig products where ASF has been reported.
In Assam, the official quoted above said that similar area-specific restrictions have also been imposed in and around the epicenter of the outbreak, in the state’s Goalpara and Charaideo districts. Earlier this year, there were also reports of an ASF outbreak in some parts of Nagaland.
In the last two years, outbreaks were also seen in Assam (where 38,700 pigs died over 18 months), Meghalaya (where 300 pigs died), and across districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Tripura.
Symptoms of African Swine fever
These are the key symptoms of ASF:
Unexpected deaths
Loss of appetite
Red/purple bruises on the skin
Does it affect humans?
African Swine Fever doesn’t affect humans in any way and is found only on wild and domestic pigs. There is no risk to human health even if they contact an infected pig or eat pork products.
Also Read: Manipur: American swine fever breaks out at piggery in Kamjong district
African Swine Flu
The African Swine Flu refers to Influenza in pigs. This virus can cause influenza-like illness in pigs and is spread via direct or indirect contact with an infected pig. However, there are vaccines available for the African Swine Flu.
Symptoms of African Swine Flu
Fever
Depression
Sneezing
Breathing difficulties
Eye redness or inflammation
Going off feed
Does it affect humans?
This disease is mainly found in pigs but in rare cases, variants of African Swine Flu can be passed on to humans. However, there is no risk to human health from eating pork products.
