GovWire

African swine fever (ASF) affects all pigs, including wild boar.

ASF is not the same disease as swine influenza. It does not affect humans.

Current situation

ASF virus is spreading in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. In affected areas the disease has been confirmed in wild boar, as well as on farms, smallholdings and in pet pigs.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are monitoring the situation to assess the risk to the UK pig population.

How to spot ASF

The signs of ASF are very similar to classical swine fever.

The main clinical signs are:

• fever
• loss of appetite
• lack of energy
• sudden death with few signs beforehand

Other signs can include:

• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• red or dark skin, particularly on the ears and snout
• discharges from the eyes and nose
• laboured breathing and coughing
• abortion in pregnant sows
• weakness
• unsteady gait

There are several different strains of ASF.

Pigs infected with mild strains may not become ill or show typical clinical signs.

Severe strains of the disease are generally fatal.

Photos of clinical signs

Defra has published photos of the clinical signs of ASF.

How ASF spreads

The disease is highly contagious. It can spread if healthy pigs:

• eat infectious meat or meat products - the virus survives for a long time in cooked or frozen meat
• have contact with infected pigs or their faeces or body fluids
• have contact with anything contaminated with the virus - such as people, clothing, vehicles and other equipment

Countries where ASF is confirmed

ASFhas been confirmed in areas in the following European countries:

• Bulgaria
• Estonia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Moldova
• North Macedonia
• Poland
• Romania
• Russia
• Sardinia
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Ukraine

ASFis present in parts of Asia, including:

• Cambodia
• China (Peoples Republic of)
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)
• Korea (Democratic Peoples Republic of)
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Thailand
• Vietnam

ASF is present in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

ASFhas been confirmed in some African countries, including recent outbreaks in South Africa.

For the latest information, please check the World Organisation for Animal Health website.

What to do if you travel to ASF-affected countries

ASF is not confirmed in all areas of these countries but theres a risk youll bring the disease back to the UK if, while youre there, you:

• have contact with pigs or wild boar such as on farms or smallholdings
• visit areas where wild boar may live such as in forests or woodland

If you do this, you should clean and disinfect clothing, footwear, vehicles and equipment before you:

• return to the UK
• have contact with pigs or visit areas where wild boar live

You should tell the owner youve visited an affected area if you work on a farm that keeps pigs or visit someone who keeps a pet pig.

Trade and personal imports

Entering the UK from non-EU countries

When entering the UK from non-EU countries, you must not bring any pork or pork products back to the UK. It is illegal to bring personal meat or dairy products into the UK from non-EU countries. You may face prosecution and a fine if you do.

Entering Great Britain from EU or EFTA countries

When entering Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland), you must only bring pork or pork products over 2kg in weight (allowance is per person) that is either:

• commercially packaged with an EU identification mark (for products)
• stamped with a health mark (for carcases)

Animal By Products (ABPs) must either:

• be in commercial packaging which includes the name and address of the feed business operator responsible for its labelling under Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 (animal feed only)
• have a label describing the product (including the category of ABP it belongs) and an ABP commercial document

If you have any food left over during your travel, use a secure bin to dispose of the food waste before entering the UK.

You can bring pork or pork product under 2kg (per person) that is not commercially packaged or health marked back from EU or EFTA countries, butyou must dispose of it so that pigs and wild boar cannot eat it.

It is illegal to bring personal meat or dairy products into the UK from Asia or Africa. You may face prosecution and a large fine if you import personal meat or dairy products from Asia or Africa when entering the UK.

Prevent ASF spreading

You should practise strict biosecurity to prevent the virus spreading. This includes:

• wearing protective clothing and boots, and providing these for anyone coming onto your premises
• cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment that youve used in areas where pigs are
• disposing of leftovers or waste food in secure bins that pigs or wildlife cannot access

A full list of the biosecurity measures you should take is in the guide for disease prevention for livestock and poultry keepers.

Register land you use to keep pigs

You must register your land and your animals if you keep pigs, including pet pigs.

This is so the government can track the location and movement of livestock to prevent and control disease.

Do not feed pigs food waste

Its illegal to feed catering or domestic food waste to pigs or wild boar. This is because theres a risk of spreading disease.

Catering waste includes food from vegetarian and vegan kitchens.

Domestic food waste includes:

• kitchen waste or scraps, such as leftovers from meals
• raw, partially or fully cooked meat
• meat thats been cured, dried, smoked or frozen
• fish, including shellfish
• dog and cat food

You should dispose of leftovers, waste food and any packaging in secure bins so that pigs or wildlife cannot eat it.

You should not take meat or meat products into areas where pigs are kept or where wild boar live.

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