Definition of African swine fever

African swine fever virus (ASFV): a virus of the Asfarviridae family that causes a hemorrhagic fever in domestic and wild pigs. The virus infects pigs as well as soft ticks of the genus Onithodorus. Infected ticks are thought to serve as vectors of transmission. Transmission among pigs can also occur directly or through contaminated food. The illness produced is known as African swine fever; it is highly lethal to pigs. In 2018, China reported that ASFV had been noted in pigs on a farm near Beijing. The virus is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, although outbreaks have been previously reported in European countries as well. ASFV does not infect humans.