The virus of African origin is characteristic of the pig and popularly known as “Ebola Swine”. It is spreading rapidly around the world, resulting in the largest outbreak of animal diseases that the plan has ever seen.

Farmers from China, Mongolia, North Korea and some parts of Europe have reported about pigs with the disease. Humans are not infected even when eating the flesh of a pig containing the virus. In Brazil, there are still no cases linked to Ebola Swine.

Whole pig farms are being contaminated with the virus (Photo: Press Release / IFL Science)

According to Rabobank market analysts, there are about 200 million infected pigs. Millions more are being sacrificed as an alternative to contain the situation.

According to veterinary epidemiologist and swine fever specialist Dirk Pfeiffer of Hong Kong City University, the outbreak of pork disease is the largest ever.

Pfeiffer also points out that diseases such as "mad cow" and foot-and-mouth disease become common when compared to pig's ebola, mainly because of the damage caused.

For pigs and wild boars, the disease is 100% fatal. In addition, infected pigs die within 10 days.

The virus

The virus is considered one of the worst in the world as it can survive in chilled blood for up to 6 years; In serum, it can last 18 months. Still, the pork virus can live in salted meat and salami for up to 8 months.

Macrophage cell in its early stage of infection (Photo: Press Release / IFL Science)

Resistance to extreme temperatures and pH are also characteristic of the virus that is terrorizing pig farmers. Although researchers are studying an antidote to contain the disease, there is still no cure, not even medicines to treat animals.

Some tests with possible vaccines to prevent the disease are being done, but it still requires a lot of study.

When did it come

The first appearance of the virus dates from the 20th century in Africa and remained in African lands until the 1950s - when there were reports in Lisbon, Portugal.

The virus spread in Europe and Africa quickly and quietly, causing unusual outbreaks. Today, what researchers feared most has happened: The virus has a base in China, where half of the world's pigs are concentrated.

It is not yet known what will happen in the coming months, but researchers are constantly working on a cure for swine ebola.