By Dr. Sagarika Borah, ICAR-KVK, WGH
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) unveiled the country’s first vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF) during the celebration of its 98th Foundation Day on 16th July at New Delhi, offering new hope to millions of pig farmers, particularly in the North eastern states where the disease has exacted heavy economic losses over the past several years. The MA-104 cell based live attenuated African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine, developed by ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal marks a significant breakthrough in safeguarding the country’s pig population against one of the most devastating viral diseases of pigs in the recent years.
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious, deadly viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, often causing mortality rates of up to 100 percent. Although the disease poses no threat to human health, its devastating impact on pig population results in massive economic losses for farmers, threatens food security and disrupts the pork value chain. ASF also threatens biodiversity, spreading among wild pig populations and disrupting ecosystems.
ASF is an OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health or WOAH) listed disease, reflecting its significance to international trade, global animal health and public health. OIE-listed diseases are monitored to facilitate the management of global outbreaks. WOAH works closely with its partners, industry stakeholders, and experts to support countries in their efforts to prevent and control this devastating disease in pigs.
Since 2007, ASF has spread to over 50 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the America. In India, ASF was first reported in the year 2020 in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh causing substantial economic losses to the pig farming sector in the North Eastern (NE) region. As per OIE report, a total of 11 outbreaks occurred in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. in 2020.
In the North Eastern region, which accounts for more than 45% of India’s pig population, pig farming plays a vital role in sustaining livelihoods and ensuring nutritional security, particularly among tribal communities. The high mortality associated with ASF, coupled with the need for mass culling of infected and exposed pigs, has resulted in severe financial losses for farmers, pushing many into greater economic hardship and threatening the stability of rural livelihoods.
ASF is transmitted through both direct and indirect routes. Pigs become infected either through direct contact with infected animals or indirectly through contaminated materials such as feed, farm equipment, clothing, and vehicles as well as biological vectors such as soft ticks (Ornithodoros spp.). The ASF virus is highly resilient and can survive for extended periods under various environmental conditions. It remains infectious for days to weeks in excretions and contaminated soil, for months in contaminated feed and carcasses and for years in frozen meat.
The most important risk factor associated with occurrence of ASF in NE states is that many states share a porous border with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, Tibet and China wherein ASF outbreaks have been reported. The unrestricted cross-border movement of people, livestock and piglets without proper health certification or disease screening increases the likelihood of the virus entering the region. Other factors that may facilitate virus transmission include the close proximity of pig farms, high-density pig rearing and marshy areas that may support the breeding of soft ticks, which can act as biological vectors of the virus. Poor farm management practices, such as improper disposal of pig carcasses, slaughtering pigs near farms, selling sick or infected animals, introducing replacement stock from unknown sources and feeding pigs with untreated swill, further elevate the risk of disease transmission. Moreover, unrestricted movement of people, vehicles, equipment, and animals between farms, along with the proximity of pig farms to forest areas where wild pigs may interact with domestic pigs, creates additional pathways for the introduction and spread of ASF.
Fresh outbreaks of African swine fever were confirmed in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam in this year raising concerns over the spread of the disease in the region. In Meghalaya, the disease has been detected in several villages across the Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills districts, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance and implement strict containment measures. In accordance with the National Action Plan for the Control, Containment and Eradication of African Swine Fever (ASF) formulated by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, the Veterinary Departments of the affected states have initiated immediate control and containment measures to prevent the further spread of the disease.
For decades, the absence of a preventive vaccine against ASF has forced disease control efforts to rely primarily on mass culling, along with strict hygiene and biosecurity measures. This approach has resulted in substantial economic losses for the pig sector, particularly in regions where pig farming is a major source of livelihood. However, this scenario is set to change. Scientists at the ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal have successfully developed an ASF vaccine, marking a major milestone in India’s fight against this devastating disease. Although the vaccine may take some time to become commercially available, its development offers renewed hope to pig farmers, the livestock industry and other stakeholders, with the potential to significantly strengthen disease control and revive the country’s pig sector.
The achievement underscores ICAR’s commitment to translating scientific research into practical technologies that directly benefit farmers. It also highlights the growing capacity of Indian scientists to respond to emerging animal health challenges through indigenous innovation.
