ICAR develops India's first indigenous African swine fever vaccine, boosting pig disease control

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed the country's first indigenous vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF), a deadly viral disease that has caused heavy losses to pig farmers since its outbreak in India in 2020.

The vaccine was dedicated to the nation by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the presence of Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh during the ICAR Foundation Day celebrations.

African Swine Fever is one of the most destructive viral diseases affecting domestic and wild pigs worldwide. The disease is characterised by high fever, internal bleeding and mortality rates that can reach nearly 100 per cent. Since its first detection in India, ASF has spread across several states and Union Territories, leading to large-scale pig deaths, restrictions on animal movement and trade, and severe financial losses for pig farmers, particularly in the North Eastern region.

According to the government, ASF outbreaks have caused significant economic damage. In Assam alone, outbreaks during 2020 and 2021 resulted in estimated losses of around ₹276 crore due to pig mortality and culling. In Mizoram, more than 11,382 households have been affected by ASF outbreaks up to 2025, with reported losses of nearly ₹982 crore.

To address this challenge, scientists at ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal, have developed an indigenous MA-104 cell line-based live attenuated African Swine Fever vaccine. The vaccine has been developed using a novel attenuated ASF Genotype II virus with unique gene deletions, making it suitable for large-scale production.

ICAR said the vaccine has successfully completed extensive laboratory testing, including sterility, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity and protective efficacy studies. It was also field-validated in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, confirming its safety and effectiveness under field conditions.

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 indigenous vaccine is expected to significantly reduce pig mortality, minimise economic losses and strengthen disease preparedness in the country's pig farming sector. Besides improving animal health, it is expected to enhance the livelihoods of pig farmers and support the sustainable growth of India's swine industry.

Speaking on the achievement, ICAR Director General and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Dr M.L. Jat, said the breakthrough marks a new chapter in India's veterinary science and reflects the country's growing capability to develop world-class animal health technologies. He said the achievement would strengthen livestock health, disease preparedness, food security and national biosecurity.

The government noted that only a few commercially licensed ASF vaccines are currently available globally, mainly in Vietnam, where they rely on patented proprietary cell lines. In contrast, the vaccine developed by ICAR-NIHSAD uses the widely available MA-104 cell line, eliminating dependence on proprietary manufacturing platforms and making large-scale, affordable vaccine production possible.

The development is being seen as a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in veterinary vaccine development and could position India as a global supplier of affordable African Swine Fever vaccines in the coming years.