Which is NOT considered a risk for introduction and/or spread of African swine fever?

• A. Garbage feeding
• B. Feral swine
• C. Trucks moving between farms
• D. Mosquitoes

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is how African swine fever is introduced and spread among pig populations. The virus moves primarily through direct contact with infected pigs or contaminated materials, and through feeding practices that bring the virus into pigs’ environment. Wild boar populations also act as reservoirs and can bridge infection to domestic herds.

Garbage feeding is a clear risk because pigs fed with untreated waste containing infected pork products can become infected directly. Feral swine contribute by carrying and spreading the virus between wild and domestic settings, increasing the chance of introduction to farms. Trucks moving between farms are a well-known risk because contaminated vehicles, equipment, or clothing can carry the virus from an infected site to another location, introducing it to new herds.

Mosquitoes, on the other hand, are not a recognized transmission route for African swine fever. The virus is not spread by these insects, and there is no evidence of vector-borne transmission via mosquitoes, so they do not contribute to introduction or spread in farm settings.