African swine fever symptoms: what people need to know

In pigs, the infection can cause fever, weakness, reduced appetite, skin discolouration, vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing difficulty or sudden death. These animal signs require veterinary attention because several pig diseases can look similar.

Despite its name, African swine fever is unrelated to seasonal influenza and is not the same as swine flu. It is a viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. People can carry contaminated material on footwear, clothing, equipment or food without becoming infected themselves.

A person who develops fever or another symptom after contact with pigs needs assessment for a human illness, not African swine fever. The exposure history may still help a clinician consider infections that can pass from animals to people.

Do not touch, move, slaughter or eat meat from a pig that appears ill or has died unexpectedly. Keep people, pets, vehicles and equipment away, and contact the local veterinary or animal-health authority for instructions. Clean only as directed so contaminated material is not spread elsewhere.

If you feel unwell, note your symptoms, their onset, travel, insect bites, foods eaten and animal contact. Wash exposed skin with soap and water, change contaminated clothing and arrange clinical advice based on the human symptoms you actually have.

Seek urgent medical care for trouble breathing, confusion, fainting, a seizure, severe weakness, a rapidly spreading rash, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration. These warning signs require assessment regardless of whether pig contact occurred.

For a mild fever that persists or worsens, contact a clinician and describe the temperature pattern and associated symptoms. Mention recent travel, farm work, animal products and tick or mosquito bites because those details can guide appropriate testing.

Ask which human conditions fit your symptoms, whether your animal or travel exposure changes the tests you need, how to manage fever safely, and which new warning signs should prompt urgent reassessment.