Pay serious attention to African Swine Fever, urge wildlife experts

A bearded pig in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah. Such a sighting is not happening anymore since ASF hit Sabah. (Photo by Rudi Delvaux).

KOTA KINABALU: The African Swine Fever (ASF) is not getting enough attention despite the disease having decimated the domestic and wild pigs population in Asia, Europe, and Africa, say wildlife experts.

Prof Erik Meijaard, former chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Wild Pigs Specialist Group, and Prof Benoit Goossens of Cardiff University, said the near-100% fatality rate threatens food security, ecosystems and the lives and traditions of millions of people.