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African swine fever
Keeping African swine fever out of Canada
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. It causes high death rates in infected pigs and can infect swine herds in various ways. There is no treatment or vaccine for African swine fever. Consult the African swine fever fact sheet for answers to frequently asked questions.
In Canada, ASF is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. African swine fever has never been found in Canada.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing the risk of African swine fever. An outbreak in Canada would have a significant economic impact on the country and the Canadian pork industry.
What you can do to prevent an outbreak
People such as farm workers, foreign exchange students or hunters who travel to countries infected with African swine fever could bring back contaminated food, clothing and equipment.
Wash or dispose of all clothing and footwear worn while travelling to a country that is infected with ASF prior to re-entering Canada. Travellers also must declare all animals and food products at the border. Neglecting to do so, could result in fines of up to $1300.
Visitors who have visited a farm in an ASF-infected country must not visit a pig farm in Canada for at least 14 days.
Feeding pigs food scraps that are infected with the virus can introduce the disease to a swine herd.
Did you know that it is illegal to feed meat to pigs?
This includes all pet foods that contain meat or meat by-products. African swine fever can survive for several months in fresh, frozen, cooked, partially cooked and processed pork products.
Resources for producers
Animal feed and feed imports
African swine fever can spread through contaminated feed or feed ingredients. Producers should only purchase swine feed from trusted sources that have appropriate biosecurity controls.
Producers and feed manufacturers who purchase ingredients to produce pig feed should know the origin of the ingredients. Producers and feed importers should verify that feed ingredients were produced and handled using proper biosecurity measures.
Feed importers should be able to provide feed purchasers with information on how the ingredients were produced and handled prior to entry into Canada.
African swine fever can be spread directly between pigs which happens through contact with the blood, tissues, secretions and excretions from infected pigs.
While African swine fever is not present in Canadian wild pigs, it is good biosecurity practice for producers and swine pet owners to keep their animals away from any areas where they could come into contact with wild pigs.
If producers or swine pet owners notice their pig(s) are sick, they should isolate the pig(s) immediately to reduce the risk or disease exposure and spread.
Disease images of African swine fever are available from the Center for Food Security and Public Health.
Any suspicion of ASF must be reported to your local CFIA veterinarian.
Properly dispose of garbage. Wild pigs can contract ASF through scavenging infected waste that has been left in areas that are accessible to them.
Strong on-farm biosecurity standards
African swine fever can be brought onto a farm by people who have visited farms in areas that are infected with ASF. This includes bringing contaminated food, clothing or equipment onto farms.
Producers must ensure that visitors or worker on their farms follow strict biosecurity measures prior to coming back onto their premises.
Keeping African swine fever out of Canada
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. It causes high death rates in infected pigs and can infect swine herds in various ways. There is no treatment or vaccine for African swine fever. Consult the African swine fever fact sheet for answers to frequently asked questions.
In Canada, ASF is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. African swine fever has never been found in Canada.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing the risk of African swine fever. An outbreak in Canada would have a significant economic impact on the country and the Canadian pork industry.
What you can do to prevent an outbreak
- International travellers
- Back yard producers and pig pet owners
- Animal feed and feed imports
- Contact with wild pigs
- Strong on-farm biosecurity standards
People such as farm workers, foreign exchange students or hunters who travel to countries infected with African swine fever could bring back contaminated food, clothing and equipment.
Wash or dispose of all clothing and footwear worn while travelling to a country that is infected with ASF prior to re-entering Canada. Travellers also must declare all animals and food products at the border. Neglecting to do so, could result in fines of up to $1300.
Visitors who have visited a farm in an ASF-infected country must not visit a pig farm in Canada for at least 14 days.
- What can I bring into Canada in terms of food, plant, animal and related products?
- Countries that Canada recognizes as being free from the disease
- Map of confirmed cases around the world
Feeding pigs food scraps that are infected with the virus can introduce the disease to a swine herd.
Did you know that it is illegal to feed meat to pigs?
This includes all pet foods that contain meat or meat by-products. African swine fever can survive for several months in fresh, frozen, cooked, partially cooked and processed pork products.
Resources for producers
Animal feed and feed imports
African swine fever can spread through contaminated feed or feed ingredients. Producers should only purchase swine feed from trusted sources that have appropriate biosecurity controls.
Producers and feed manufacturers who purchase ingredients to produce pig feed should know the origin of the ingredients. Producers and feed importers should verify that feed ingredients were produced and handled using proper biosecurity measures.
Feed importers should be able to provide feed purchasers with information on how the ingredients were produced and handled prior to entry into Canada.
- Feed questions and answers
- Import and export questions and answers
- What's hitching a ride in your feed? ? PDF (444 kb)
African swine fever can be spread directly between pigs which happens through contact with the blood, tissues, secretions and excretions from infected pigs.
While African swine fever is not present in Canadian wild pigs, it is good biosecurity practice for producers and swine pet owners to keep their animals away from any areas where they could come into contact with wild pigs.
If producers or swine pet owners notice their pig(s) are sick, they should isolate the pig(s) immediately to reduce the risk or disease exposure and spread.
Disease images of African swine fever are available from the Center for Food Security and Public Health.
Any suspicion of ASF must be reported to your local CFIA veterinarian.
Properly dispose of garbage. Wild pigs can contract ASF through scavenging infected waste that has been left in areas that are accessible to them.
Strong on-farm biosecurity standards
African swine fever can be brought onto a farm by people who have visited farms in areas that are infected with ASF. This includes bringing contaminated food, clothing or equipment onto farms.
Producers must ensure that visitors or worker on their farms follow strict biosecurity measures prior to coming back onto their premises.
- Animal biosecurity
- On-farm biosecurity
- National Swine Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard
- National Biosecurity Guide for the Livestock and Poultry Feed Sector
- Video series: Statement from Canada's Chief Veterinary Officer
- 2018-10-10: Statement from Canada's Chief Veterinary Officer
- Video: African swine fever - How to stay one step ahead