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2 Dec 2025·Source: The Indian Express
3 min
Social IssuesEnvironment & EcologyEconomyNEWS

Spain Deploys Military to Combat African Swine Fever Outbreak

Spain has mobilized its military to help control an outbreak of African Swine Fever, a highly contagious pig disease, in the country.

Spain Deploys Military to Combat African Swine Fever Outbreak

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

Spain has taken a drastic step by mobilizing its military to help contain an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting pigs. The government confirmed the presence of the virus and has initiated a culling operation of infected animals to prevent its spread. What does this mean? Essentially, ASF poses a severe threat to the pig farming industry, which is a significant part of Spain's economy.

The deployment of the military underscores the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for strict biosecurity measures to control the disease, which has no vaccine or cure. This kind of outbreak can have significant economic and food security implications.

मुख्य तथ्य

1.

Spain has mobilized its military to combat an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF).

2.

ASF is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting pigs.

3.

Culling operations have been initiated to control the spread.

4.

There is currently no vaccine or cure for ASF.

UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण

1.

Impact of animal diseases on agriculture, economy, and food security.

2.

Biosecurity measures and disease control strategies in livestock management.

3.

The 'One Health' approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health.

4.

Role of international organizations (e.g., World Organisation for Animal Health - WOAH/OIE, FAO, WHO) in global animal health governance.

5.

India's preparedness, policies, and schemes (e.g., National Animal Disease Control Programme) regarding animal disease outbreaks.

6.

Role of state machinery, including military, in civilian emergencies and disaster management related to biological threats.

दृश्य सामग्री

African Swine Fever Outbreak in Spain

This map highlights Spain, where the military has been deployed to combat an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak. Spain is a significant pork producer within the European Union, making this outbreak a major economic and food security concern.

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📍Spain

Biological Disaster Response: African Swine Fever Outbreak

This flowchart illustrates the typical steps involved in managing a biological disaster like the African Swine Fever outbreak, from initial detection to long-term recovery, highlighting the critical role of various measures including military deployment.

  1. 1.Disease Detection & Reporting (Surveillance)
  2. 2.Rapid Diagnosis & Confirmation
  3. 3.Declaration of Outbreak & Emergency Measures
  4. 4.Containment Zone Establishment (Quarantine)
  5. 5.Culling of Infected/Exposed Animals
  6. 6.Military/Law Enforcement Deployment (for logistics, enforcement, culling support)
  7. 7.Strict Biosecurity Measures (Disinfection, Movement Restrictions)
  8. 8.Disposal of Carcasses & Contaminated Materials
  9. 9.Post-Outbreak Surveillance & Recovery
और जानकारी

पृष्ठभूमि

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. It was first described in Kenya in 1921. It has since spread to various parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia, causing significant economic losses. Unlike Classical Swine Fever (CSF), there is no vaccine for ASF, making its control challenging. The disease can spread rapidly through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated feed, or fomites.

नवीनतम घटनाक्रम

Spain's recent decision to deploy its military to combat an ASF outbreak underscores the severity and urgency of containing such epidemics. This is not an isolated incident; countries like China, Vietnam, and several European nations have faced massive culling operations due to ASF outbreaks in recent years, leading to significant disruptions in global pork supply chains, economic losses, and impacts on rural livelihoods. The lack of a vaccine or cure necessitates strict biosecurity and rapid response measures.

बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)

1. Consider the following statements regarding African Swine Fever (ASF): 1. It is a highly contagious viral disease affecting only domestic pigs. 2. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment available for ASF. 3. The disease is known to be zoonotic, posing a direct threat to human health. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: B

Statement 1 is incorrect: ASF affects both domestic and wild pigs. Statement 2 is correct: There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for ASF, making culling and biosecurity the primary control methods. Statement 3 is incorrect: ASF is not known to be zoonotic, meaning it does not pose a direct threat to human health, though it has severe economic and food security implications.

2. In the context of animal disease management and global health, consider the following statements: 1. The 'One Health' approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. 2. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), formerly OIE, is responsible for improving animal health worldwide and setting international standards. 3. India's National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) aims to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis by 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: D

Statement 1 is correct: The 'One Health' approach is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach working at local, regional, national, and global levels to achieve optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. Statement 2 is correct: The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), previously known as OIE (Office International des Épizooties), is the intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide. Statement 3 is correct: The NADCP, launched by the Indian government, aims for 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, and pig population against FMD and Brucellosis by 2025.

3. Which of the following statements correctly describes the primary reason for deploying military forces in response to an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, as seen in the news?

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: B

The primary reason for deploying military forces in an ASF outbreak is to leverage their logistical capabilities, manpower, and discipline to enforce strict biosecurity measures, manage large-scale culling operations efficiently, secure affected areas, and prevent the movement of potentially infected animals or products. This is crucial for containing a highly contagious disease with no vaccine or cure. Options A, C, and D are not the primary roles of military deployment in such a crisis.

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