Indonesia developing serum against African swine fever virus after outbreak in major farm near Batam

Dr Honismandri said officials are trying to produce convalescent serums from the blood of the surviving pigs. Convalescent serums are blood serums containing antibodies which can provide short-term immunity against infection.

The serum is being developed at a government facility in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second biggest city and the capital of East Java province.

“This is an important step to prevent and contain the spread of African swine fever because there is currently no vaccine,” he said.

Dr Honismandri added that the same facility has already developed serums from infected pigs in other parts of Indonesia. However, the virus infecting the pigs on Pulau Bulan appeared to have a specific genetic strain not found in previous cases of African swine fever in the country.

Developing a serum from the blood of surviving pigs on Pulau Bulan will ensure the serum’s effectiveness against this particular strain of the African swine fever virus, Dr Honismandri noted.

“It will take two to three months until a product is ready. That is the estimate. After that we can begin inoculating (the pigs),” he said.

“We are also exploring potential vaccines. Some countries are developing potential vaccines for African swine fever. If one is proven to be effective we will be working to get our hands on some to be used on Pulau Bulan.”

OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING CAUSE

No one lives on Pulau Bulan which since the 1980s has been dedicated exclusively to animal breeding. There are also shrimp and crocodile farms on Pulau Bulan and at one time a chicken farm.

Mr Aris Hadiyono, chief of the local agricultural quarantine office, said PT Indotirta Suaka, which manages the pig farm on Pulau Bulan, has been imposing tight biosecurity measures.