News Sport
Graphic toont de verspreiding van de Afrikaanse varkenspest en de impact van de ziekte.
Responsive: View Mobile Version
GN39326NL
EN NL AR DE ES PT

GEZONDHEID

Afrikaanse varkenspest verspreidt zich verder

July 15, 2019 - Wetenschappers haasten zich om een vaccin tegen Afrikaanse varkenspest te ontwikkelen voordat het virus zich over de wereld verspreidt. Ongevaarlijk voor de mens maar dodelijk voor varkens, heeft het de Chinese varkensmarkt al lamgelegd.

African swine fever (ASF) is fatal and spreads quickly among pigs. It is believed to have originated in sub-Saharan Africa, spreading to Europe and Russia before reaching China – the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork – where it has spread like wildfire.

ASF has infected pig herds in Vietnam, Mongolia, North Korea, Cambodia and Laos, and outbreaks have surfaced in parts of Europe, where the virus maintains a stronghold in wild boar populations.

The disease is transmitted either via direct animal contact or via dissemination of contaminated food. No vaccine exists and efforts to develop one have been hindered by the complex nature of the virus.

Even with recent announcements of progress by researchers in China, Vietnam and the United States, a commercially-available vaccine is likely to be years away.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 15/07/2019; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Associated Press
Advertisement