ASF is an infectious viral disease in pigs (including wild boars). It cannot be transmitted to humans. Thus, contact with infected animals does not pose a health risk to humans.
ASF has never been found in Denmark.
Symptoms of African swine fever
You must suspect swine fever if pigs suddenly die or more pigs show one or more of the following symptoms:
- Fever and decreased appetite
- Eye inflammation with tearing
- Red or blue-violet discolouration (preferably on legs, abdomen and ears)
- Break Inger
- Constipation (tuberous fertilizer) followed by diarrhea
- Cramps, uncoordinated movements and staggering hind legs
- Bleeding
The course of disease in infected animals is rampant and mortality is high. More than 90% of infected pigs die and there is no treatment. There is also no vaccine to prevent the disease.
Notifiable Disease
African swine fever is a notifiable disease. This means that you as an employee must contact your employer, ie. the herd owner, if you notify the slightest suspicion of African swine fever in the herd. Then the herd veterinarian is contacted, who immediately comes and sees the herd.
How are the visiting rules?
If you have been abroad, there are three main rules that apply before arriving to a herd:
- 24 hour quarantine from crossing the Danish border until entering the area of the herd.
- Before accessing the herd, clothing and shoes must be changed and you need to bath before you enter the herd area.
- Food, hunting trophies and live animals brought from abroad are not allowed in the herd area.
There is a difference between staying in a low-risk or high-risk area. Upon arrival from a low-risk area, a 12-hour quarantine from crossing the Danish border is until one has to enter the herd area.