African swine fever variants currently outside Africa

Abstract

In 2007 African swine fever (ASF) type 2 entered Georgia and since then has progressively moved around the planet resulting in a global pandemic, which is responsible for killing many millions of pigs. Local spread occurs through wild pig movement but human movement of pork products and even pigs for hunting has resulted in movement over 1000s of kilometres. With the devastating impact of ASF type 2 on a pig farm the development of a suitable vaccine is essential. Unfortunately, in desperation, potential ASF vaccine candidates have been released. The premature release of vaccine candidates has created clinical confusion by reducing the clinical signs of ASF, in particular the high pyrexia usually seen in pigs infected with this virus. The lack of specific clinical signs can make identify of sick animals more difficult and this increases the potential for incursion across national borders.