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Diseases of animals: Classical swine fever
Classical swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. There have been several outbreaks in Australia that have been eradicated, but no outbreaks since 1961.
While infected pigs spread the disease, the virus can also survive for a long time in frozen pig carcasses and cured and salted pork.
It can stay alive in contaminated pig pens for up to two weeks and can be carried on clothing, shoes or vehicles. Sometimes pigs can be infected without showing signs, and if they are moved to another area they can spread the disease further.
Keep a Top Watch
If the disease entered Australia, it could spread quickly and wipe out large sections of our pig industry. Keep a watch on wild pigs, and if you see sick pigs, or more deaths than usul, notify Quarantine immediately. If you see foreign boats on the beach or food washed up on the shore, tell Quarantine so the threat can be stopped.
Photos below: Pigs with Classical swine fever appear drowsy and depressed. Call Quarantine if you see sick pigs in Northern Australia. Quarantine officers regularly survey pigs for the disease.
Identification: Pigs with the acute disease appear drowsy and are later severely depressed. They huddle together, stagger when forced to move and can have convulsions and trembling. First they are constipated, but vomiting and diarrhoea are also common. They may have gummy eyelids and red or purple blotching on the ears, snout, limbs and body. Death usually follows.
Distribution: The disease is present in east and central Africa, India, China, Asia and throughout central and South America, and outbreaks occur in Europe. In 1998 it spread east through Indonesia as far as Timor, but indications are that Papua New Guinea is free from the disease.
Threat: If classical swine fever got into Australia's wild pig population, it could spread into the domestic pig population, resulting in disease and death for many animals and the loss of millions of dollars for the pork industry.