Publication - Advice and guidance

Exotic notifiable animal diseases contingency plans - Scottish Regional Resilience Partnerships' framework: August 2022

Published: 16 August 2022
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Farming and rural
ISBN: 9781804357118

Information on how and when operational partners should respond to a suspect or confirmed exotic notifiable animal disease outbreak.

Supporting documents

Appendix N: Swine fever (SF)

Introduction

This appendix covers two separate diseases, classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF). Both can cause severe illness in pigs and wild boar, but do not infect other animals. The diseases are very similar and will be discussed together. The symptoms of both diseases are almost identical, and laboratory diagnosis is necessary to distinguish between them. Disease presentation can vary from pigs dying after a short illness with fever and discoloration of skin, through ill pigs with diarrhoea, respiratory and nervous signs, to pigs showing only mild signs. Currently there is no effective approved vaccine against ASF. Routine vaccination for CSF is prohibited and is unlikely to be considered as an appropriate control measure in the initial stages or during a controlled CSF outbreak, but may be considered during a prolonged epidemic.

The Scottish Government's response to a swine fever outbreak is outlined in the Scottish Government's Exotic Diseases of Animal Contingency Framework Plan. The Disease Control Strategy for African and Classical Swine Fever in GB contains a more detailed response to an outbreak of ASF or CSF. Further details on ASF and CSF can be found at gov.scot. During an outbreak of swine fever in Scotland or elsewhere in GB, those web pages on gov.scot will be supplemented with additional information specific to the disease outbreak.

Legislation and National Control Strategy

Year: 2014

Disease Orders: The Diseases of Swine Regulations 2014

Statutory Instrument number: 1894

Year: 2014

Disease Orders: Disease Control Strategy for African and Classical Swine Fever in Great Britain (revised March 2020)

Possible Impact

The pig sector in Scotland is highly concentrated with around 56% of the total herd located in the North East. There are around 190,000 pigs, which are worth around £144 million to the Scottish economy. Due to the highly concentrated nature of the Scottish pig herd, the impact of either CSF or ASF could be considered high.

Public health

CSF and ASF do not affect humans.

Risk of introduction of infection and spread of disease

CSF is endemic in parts of Asia, Central and South America Africa, Sardinia and in wild boar in parts of Europe. ASF is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and also in Sardinia, and has reached multiple countries across Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific, affecting both domestic and wild pigs. The last outbreak of CSF in GB was in 2000; there has never been an outbreak of ASF in GB. The greatest risk factor for introduction of disease is pigs eating contaminated imported pork products. Disease can also enter the country via imported pigs, contaminated vehicles and personnel. Control measures are in place to prevent introduction of disease by restricting imports from high-risk areas. Smuggled goods (products of animal origin) may introduce infection.

Spread is often by pigs that are apparently healthy; that is, pigs incubating disease or pigs that have recovered and are now carriers. The viruses can survive for long periods (including up to a year in frozen meat). Pigs can become infected by trucks, lorries, market places, and loading ramps (in or over which infected animals have travelled) or boots, clothing, and the hands of a stockperson who has tended to diseased pigs.

Lead Responder Control Measures under Statutory and Regulatory Powers and Responsibilities

Local Authority Principal Role

Enforcing Animal Health and Welfare Legislation
Enforcing movement restrictions
Enforcing of C&D requirements
Erection of signage and dissemination of guidance and information
Stand down and recovery

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) principal role

Respond to and investigate all reports of suspect notifiable disease
Lead agency in the instigation of the local response to a disease outbreak
Convene the NDCC, CDCC and FOB
Supervise the welfare of animals being culled
Surveillance and blood sampling of animals to demonstrate absence of disease and thus gain recognition of disease freedom

Scottish Government principal role

Ensure the necessary legislation is in place
Make and disseminate policy decisions
Make and disseminate guidance and information on disease control
Communicate with field staff and enforcement bodies (such as local authorities)
Handle policy issues as well as share disease control developments with SGoR, NDCC, and other UK Rural Affairs departments.

Following suspicion of disease

A restriction notice is served on the suspect premises while examination of animals is carried out. If veterinary examination cannot rule out swine fever, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) of 10 km may be imposed if considered necessary
The TCZ measures would restrict the movement of pigs and Government may restrict the movement of any equipment, animal or thing liable to transmit disease.