India Develops First Indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine
New Delhi, Aug. 4 (TNT): India has developed its first indigenous vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF), a major breakthrough expected to strengthen the country’s animal health security and protect the livelihoods of pig farmers.
The vaccine has been developed by scientists at the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal, using the MA-104 cell line-based live attenuated African Swine Fever virus, making it suitable for large-scale production.
African Swine Fever, one of the world’s most devastating transboundary animal diseases affecting domestic and wild pigs, has no effective treatment and causes mortality rates of up to 100 per cent.
Since its first detection in India in 2020, the disease has spread to several States and Union Territories, severely impacting pig production, particularly in the North-East.
According to official estimates, ASF outbreaks in Assam during 2020 and 2021 caused losses of about ₹276 crore, while outbreaks in Mizoram affected over 11,382 households up to 2025, resulting in losses estimated at ₹982 crore.
The vaccine has successfully completed laboratory evaluations covering sterility, purity, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity, protective efficacy and virulence reversion.
It has also undergone field validation in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
The vaccine is recommended for healthy pigs above eight weeks of age and is administered as a 1 ml intramuscular injection, followed by a booster dose after 14 days.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said the indigenous vaccine is expected to significantly reduce pig mortality, minimise economic losses and improve the livelihoods of pig farmers by providing an effective preventive tool against ASF.
DARE Secretary and ICAR Director General M.L. Jat described the development as a major milestone in veterinary science, saying it reflects India’s growing capability to develop world-class animal health technologies and will strengthen livestock health, disease preparedness, food security and biosecurity.
ICAR said the vaccine represents a technological breakthrough as it uses the widely available MA-104 cell line, unlike the few commercially licensed ASF vaccines currently available in Vietnam, which rely on patented proprietary cell lines.
The indigenous platform is expected to facilitate large-scale production while significantly reducing manufacturing costs.
TNT TS
