classical swine fever
The disease is transmitted readily by direct or indirect contact. The virus may enter a herd through contaminated feed, water, equipment, or by contact with an infected animal or person. At one time, feeding pigs raw garbage containing pork scraps from infected pigs was a common cause of infection. For this reason the United States and many other countries now prohibit the feeding of uncooked garbage to pigs. A program was established in the United States to eliminate all possible sources of virus introduction, and the disease was eradicated in 1978. A vaccine is available in areas where the disease is still present.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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