No, African Swine Fever (ASF) does not affect humans. The virus poses no risk to human health.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. While it causes significant economic losses due to its high mortality rate in pigs, it is important to understand that ASF is not transmissible to humans. It is a disease specific to swine.
Here's a breakdown of key information:
- Species Specificity: ASF virus is highly specific to pigs. Its biological mechanisms are not compatible with human cells, preventing infection.
- No Zoonotic Risk: ASF is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted from animals to humans.
- Food Safety: Pork from pigs infected with ASF is not a food safety concern for humans. While consuming such pork is not advisable from a quality perspective, it does not pose a direct health risk of ASF infection to the consumer.
- Different from Swine Flu: It's crucial to distinguish ASF from swine flu, which can occasionally affect humans. ASF and swine flu are distinct diseases caused by different viruses.
Therefore, while African Swine Fever is a serious concern for pig populations and the agricultural industry, it is not a threat to human health.
