African Swine Fever

 

What You Need to Know About African Swine Fever

 

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a disease that only affects members of the pig family, such as wild boars. It is not zoonotic, which means it cannot be transmitted to humans, and is not a risk to public health.

We have in place a biosurveillance system to quickly detect animal diseases, including ASF.

Wild boars are native to Singapore and can be found in our nature reserves, parks, and other green spaces. We are closely monitoring the health of wild boars in these areas.

Stay on designated trails when you are visiting these areas. If you spot any wild boars, observe them from a distance, and do not feed or get close to them. More info on managing wild boar encounters can be found here.

Do not touch or pick up any sick or dead animals. If you do encounter sick or dead animals, please call the Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 to report these sightings.

 

FAQs on African Swine Fever

 

1. What is African Swine Fever (ASF)? Can ASF be transmitted to people or other animals (e.g. pets such as dogs, cats or guinea pigs)?

   African Swine Fever (ASF) is a disease that only affects members of the pig family, such as wild boars. It is not zoonotic and does not infect humans or other animals e.g. dogs, cats or guinea pigs.

   It is currently present worldwide, in various areas across Africa, Europe and Asia, including Southeast Asia.

    

2. Are there cases of ASF in Singapore?

   We have confirmed the presence of ASF in a wild boar carcass found in Singapore.

    

3. Is it safe for me to hike in areas where wild boars have been spotted?

   ASF does not pose a risk to human health. The disease cannot be transmitted to humans.

   Members of the public are reminded to stay on designated trails when visiting nature reserves, parks, and other green spaces, observe wild boars from a distance, and not to feed or get close to them. 

    

4. How do I know if a wild boar or pig has ASF? What should I do if I come across a wild boar that appears sick or dead?

If you encounter a dead wild boar or one that appears sick, maintain a safe distance and do not touch the wild boar. Please call the Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 to report these sightings.

 

Suggested resources for more information on African Swine Fever

• https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-for-thought/article/detail/can-eat-or-not---african-swine-fever-(asf)
• https://www.woah.org/fileadmin/Home/eng/Animal_Health_in_the_World/docs/pdf/ASF/EN_Manual_ASFinwildboar_2019_Web.pdf
• https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au//wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Attachment-A_African-Swine-Fever-vet-guide.pdf