The National Agency on Food Safety (ANSA) is alerting the public and pig farmers to the risk of African swine fever. As there is no effective cure or vaccine against this viral disease, all the animals suspected of contracting it must be slaughtered, and the farmers will be compensated by the government based on the market value.

Despite being very contagious, the disease is not harmful for humans, veterinarian Arcadie Motruc told IPN. It is precisely because of the disease's high level of contagiousness and high mortality rates in pigs that the infected animals need to be slaughtered and burnt, before the virus could spread and cause serious damages to farmers.

ANSA said in a press release the disease affects both domestic pigs and wild boars. The virus can be transmitted directly from an infected animal to healthy ones, but also indirectly, when the pigs are fed kitchen scraps following meals that included infected pork.

People are asked to notify the sanitary authorities without delay if they see the following symptoms in pigs: a high and rapid mortality, extremely high fever, bluish-purple skin on extremities, years, abdomen and chest, lack of appetite, apathy and unsteady gait.