African swine fever

What is African Swine Fever (ASF)?

• ASF is an infectious viral disease that is lethal to domestic and feral pigs (ASF does not affect humans). No treatment or vaccine is available. This disease is not currently in Australia. However, outbreaks have been reported in many countries.

Export trade in pigs and pig products would cease if ASF were to infect Australian pigs, and pig producers would likely experience significant economic impacts.

To find out more about ASF, its symptoms, how it is spread and how you can help prevent it arriving in Australia, please visit this link. 

 Who should be on the lookout for ASF?

• Every Queenslander has a general biosecurity obligation to take all reasonable and practical steps to prevent or minimise a biosecurity risk. Everyone should be on the lookout for symptoms in any pigs you see or deal with, especially if you are a pig farmer, pest animal controller or professional/hobby hunter.

Continuing outbreaks of ASF highlight the importance of farm biosecurity and in particular, never feeding swill (food scraps containing animal matter) to pigs.

How do I report ASF?

• If you suspect the presence of ASF, you MUST report it to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or contact the Emergency Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.