PREVENTION OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF) THROUGH IMPROVING BIOSECURITY, AVOIDING MASS DESTRUCTION

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease that attacks pigs and is caused by the ASF virus and no effective vaccine has been found to prevent transmission. ASF virus is a DNA virus with double strands of the genus Asfivirus and the family Asfarviridae, this virus is very resistant to life in the environment and relatively more resistant to disinfectants. ASF disease shows symptoms in the form of bleeding (hemorrhage) in internal organs, high fever, loss of appetite and accompanied by a high mortality rate of up to 100%. Transmission is biased through direct contact, insects, clothing, livestock equipment, vehicles, and contaminated feed.

African Pig Fever (ASF) was first identified in 1921 in Kenya, east Africa. Cases outside Africa precisely in Georgia, the United States were first reported in 2007. After that, in 2018 ASF cases were reported in Liaoning Province, China. Referring from China is the largest pig exporter in the world causing the spread of this disease more quickly. Then February 2019, was reported to occur again in Vietnam. ASF were also found in Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Myanmar and Timor Leste. As of December 2019, seven countries in Southeast Asia have reported cases of the disease, including Indonesia. In this era of globalization with increasing international traffic so that it causes more rapid spread from one region to another. In Indonesia, the ASF incident was officially announced through Minister of Agriculture Decree Number 820 / KPTS / PK.320 / M / 12/2019 regarding Declaration of African Swine Fever in several regencies / cities in North Sumatra Province. Head of Medan Veterinary Center, Agustina explained that the spread of the ASF virus in 16 regencies / cities in North Sumatra was caused by the traffic of pigs that had been attacked by ASF and then brought from one region to another. This makes the ASF virus spread so fast, cattle traffic between provinces can be suspected of being the cause of the spread of the ASF virus. The large number of pig deaths due to ASF is certainly very detrimental for pig farmers. Based on the above problems, it is necessary to take preventative measures in the form of counseling and education to pig farmers and the public about this ASF disease, as well as increasing the role of biosecurity on their farms.

 The main strategic step in preventing ASF from occurring is through the application of biosecurity and good management of pig farms as well as strict and intensive supervision for high-risk areas. Both biosecurity in cages for animal diseases, as well as biosecurity from humans themselves so as not to infect animals or are zoonotic. Biosecurity involves maintaining the cleanliness of the cage, its food sources and traffic. If in humans by maintaining personal hygiene and the environment, in preventing ASF virus in pig farms, farmers are encouraged to take intelligent steps to prevent ASF by implementing biosecurity in the cage, mainly by cleaning and disinfection of the cage. Starting from using clean water and providing a place to change clothes and shoes. Then disinfect the hands properly by using soap and dipping shoes into a disinfectant solution. Disinfecting solutions can be made from cresol, NaOH 2%, Formalin 1%, sodium carbonate, chloroform, iodophor, phosphoric acid, and non-ionic detergents used to eradicate the ASF virus. Cage cleaning is done routinely and disinfection is done 3 times a day, including cleaning the feedlot as well as possible. Strive to clean and minimize spilled food. Every animal and feed transport vehicle is disinfected at the entrance and restricted from entering the cage. Required not to exchange cage tools and cage shoes. Farmers must also control pests that have the potential to cause ASF viruses such as rodents (mice), ticks, flies, wild birds. In the open area of ​​the cage, provided a cover / barrier such as nets and nets so it does not affect air circulation. Human traffic must also be limited, only stable workers are allowed to enter. To differentiate between owners or guests, cage workers use special clothes provided by the farm. By increasing biosecurity and tightening livestock traffic, the incidence of ASF can be reduced, mass destruction is the last alternative that can be done and may not need to be done if the farm optimizes its bio-security.