A highly infectious, often fatal viral disease of swine, characterized by fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and exhaustion. Also called African swine fever. or swine fever Often fatal viral disease of swine in Europe, North America, and Africa, transmitted by vehicles used to carry pigs, people dealing with them, and uncooked garbage in feed. Fever progresses to symptoms that include appetite loss; affected eyes and digestive tract; respiratory difficulty; rash; and inflamed mouth and throat. The pig moves reluctantly and staggers; later it cannot rise; coma follows. Antiserum is rarely effective. Survivors become chronically ill and can spread the virus. Illness must be reported, infected animals slaughtered, and quarantine instituted. A vaccine can control it. The African strain causes death sooner and has no effective prevention or treatment