African swine fever virus in Asia: Its rapid spread and potential threat to unaffected countries

Recently, several reports in the Journal of Infection have highlighted the problem of African swine fever (ASF).1,2 ASF is a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs with a high morbidity and mortality. However, there are currently no effective vaccines to prevent and control this disease. The causative agent of ASF is ASF virus (ASFV), which was described and isolated for the first time in Kenya in 1921.3 ASFV is endemic in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Sardinia. After 1957, this virus spread into European and American countries, and recently, it spread to Asia.
Source: Journal of Infection - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Source Type: research