What Is African Swine Fever? Disease Detected Among Pigs at Kunnamkulam Farm in Kerala

African swine fever has been detected among pigs at the Pig Breeding Unit of the Animal Husbandry Department in Kunnamkulam, Kerala, officials said on Monday, August 10. Authorities have imposed restrictions around the affected farm as a precaution, while stressing that the disease does not spread to humans.

The disease was detected after samples from the unit were tested at the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases laboratory in Bhopal. Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Isaac Sam said the infection occurs only in pigs and does not spread to humans or other domestic animals. Chandipura Virus Outbreak: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention As Gujarat, Rajasthan Battle CHPV Surge.

African Swine Fever Detected at Kunnamkulam Unit

Following confirmation of the disease, the district administration declared a one-kilometre radius around the affected farm as an infected zone and a 10-kilometre radius as a surveillance zone. The restrictions came into effect from August 9 in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure under the National Action Plan of the Centre.

"Therefore, the public need not be concerned," the Animal Husbandry Department said. District Collector Shikha Surendran has directed the District Animal Husbandry Officer to take steps to regulate the movement of pigs to other districts, the distribution of pork from the affected areas and the functioning of meat shops, as per the Centre's Plan of Action. What Is Rabbit Fever? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention as US Confirms 4th Tularemia Case.

A Rapid Response Team has also started functioning under the Animal Husbandry Department to coordinate disease-control measures in the district.

What Is African Swine Fever?

African swine fever, commonly known as ASF, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It can cause serious illness and high mortality among infected pig populations.

The disease does not infect humans and is not considered a human health threat. However, outbreaks can have significant consequences for pig farmers because of the potential for rapid transmission among pigs and the resulting losses to the livestock sector.

The infection can spread through direct contact between infected pigs as well as through contaminated feed, equipment, clothing, vehicles and other materials.

Farmers Asked to Strengthen Biosecurity

The department has issued strict biosecurity guidelines to pig farmers and workers. Farmers have been advised to temporarily avoid bringing new pigs and piglets into farms during a local disease situation.

Newly introduced pigs should be kept separately from the main herd for at least three weeks to ensure they show no symptoms of disease, officials said. Farmers have also been advised to restrict unnecessary visitors and vehicles entering farms, avoid visits to other pig farms and disinfect footwear, vehicles and equipment brought from outside. These measures are intended to reduce the risk of the virus being carried between farms.

Advisory on Swill Feeding

The department has advised farmers to avoid swill feeding, under which leftover food from hotels and markets is given to pigs. If such feeding cannot be avoided, the leftovers should be boiled for at least 20 minutes before being given to pigs.

Farmers have also been advised not to feed pigs with slaughterhouse waste, particularly waste from facilities where pigs are slaughtered along with chickens and buffaloes. The precautions are aimed at limiting possible routes through which the virus could enter or spread within pig farms.

Wild Boar Contact Also a Concern

The department asked farmers to prevent contact between domestic pigs and wild boars and report any unusually high number of wild boar deaths.

Wild boars can play a role in the circulation of African swine fever virus, making separation between domestic pig populations and potentially infected wildlife an important biosecurity measure.

Officials said any abnormal symptoms or sudden deaths among pigs should be immediately reported to the nearest government veterinary hospital.

Authorities have urged farmers to report suspected infections rather than attempting to conceal them or move affected animals. "Concealing the disease, selling off pigs suspected of being infected, or slaughtering them could lead to widespread disease transmission," the department said.

The district administration and Animal Husbandry Department are continuing disease-control measures around the affected Kunnamkulam farm, with the infected and surveillance zones remaining subject to restrictions under the applicable disease-control plan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2026 06:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).