Nepal reports its first outbreak of African Swine Fever

Nepal has reported its first cases of African Swine Fever in pigs, according to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health. The fever has so far killed 934 pigs in six townships in Nepal's capital, The Kathmandu Post reported. Nepal has 1,426 susceptible and 1,364 active cases of African Swine Fever as of Thursday night, said the animal organization that has a mandate to improve the health and welfare of animals worldwide. “Yes, the outbreak has been confirmed in Nepal,” Dr. Chandra Dhakal, information officer at the Livestock Services Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, was quoted as saying by The Post. "We will hold a press meeting on Friday to provide details." Pigs are a primary source of domestic income in many countries. The spread of African Swine Fever around the world has devastated family-run pig farms, often the mainstay of people's livelihoods and an engine of ...