African Swine Fever outbreak explained

BEIJING — Taiwan and other countries in Asia are currently under high alert for African swine fever as the outbreak continues to rise in China.

China continues to loosen rules amid the outbreak to ensure the supply of pork in the country ahead of the Lunar Year of the Pig, according to a Reuters report.

African Swine Fever is caused by the DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Symptoms include high fever, redness on the ears, abdomen and legs, and diarrhea. In serious cases, it can cause death within 6 to 13 days.

The disease is spread through direct contact with infected pigs. It could also be spread through indirect contact if the pigs consume contaminated food waste.

China has already reported more than 90 cases of African Swine Fever since August last year.

The deadly virus could survive in processed pork for a few months. It could also survive for years in frozen pig carcasses, according to the Guardian.

China previously banned the transport of pigs from outbreak regions, but continues to allow pigs from unaffected regions to be freely transported to other areas in the country.

Beijing also banned the use of food waste and pig blood in the production of pig feed in September 2018.

African Swine Fever is fatal for pigs but the disease does not harm humans.