African swine fever information for pig hunters

It's important to remain alert for African swine fever as this serious disease of pigs continues to spread in neighbouring countries. Australia is free from African swine fever however if it were introduced, it would significantly impact pig health and production.

Queensland's widespread population of feral pigs presents a challenge. Pig hunters and property owners in areas inhabited by feral pigs can help by monitoring the feral pig population for signs of disease and reporting suspected cases.

How pigs can become infected

Feral and domestic pigs can become infected with African swine fever virus by:

• eating contaminated pork products and feed
• close contact with infected pigs
• contact with contaminated equipment.

You can prevent the spread of disease by:

• wearing disposable or washable protective clothing (aprons/gloves/overalls) when dressing feral pigs
• inspecting all carcasses and carcass parts for evidence of disease or illness
• cleaning and disinfecting all equipment on site
• respecting all quarantines, biosecurity plans and restrictions that are in place
• only hunting on one property each night
• thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting your vehicle after each night's harvesting.

You should not:

• have contact with domestic pigs if you hunt feral pigs
• move live animals (including piglets) to new locations
• keep feral pigs at home
• use swill to feed or trap feral pigs
• leave leftovers from your meals in the hunting area
• feed raw feral pig meat to dogs.

Learn about what to look for and what to do if you suspect African swine fever.

Find information for feral pig hunters (PDF, 400KB).