New Delhi: India’s first indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine has been dedicated to the nation by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the presence of Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh during this year’s ICAR Foundation Day, marking a significant milestone in veterinary vaccine development and strengthening the country’s animal health biosecurity.
Developed by scientists at the ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal, the African Swine Fever Vaccine is expected to reduce pig mortality, safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and reinforce India’s self-reliance in animal healthcare.
The indigenous vaccine represents a major step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in veterinary vaccine development and has the potential to position India as a global supplier of affordable African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccines.
African Swine Fever (ASF), caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), is one of the most devastating trans-boundary animal diseases affecting domestic and wild pigs worldwide.
Characterised by high fever, haemorrhages and mortality rates that may approach 100 per cent, the disease has caused severe socio-economic losses to the global pig farming sector.
Since its first detection in India in 2020, ASF has spread to several States and Union Territories, resulting in massive pig mortality, disruption of pig production, restrictions on animal movement and trade, and significant livelihood losses for smallholder pig farmers, particularly in the North-Eastern region.
In the absence of an effective treatment or a commercially approved African Swine Fever Vaccine in India, disease control has largely relied on rapid diagnosis, culling of infected animals and strict biosecurity measures.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) posted on X: “A major leap in animal health! #ICAR-NIHSAD develops an indigenous MA-104 cell-based live attenuated vaccine against African Swine Fever—protecting pigs and securing livelihood.”
The economic impact of ASF outbreaks in India has been significant. During the initial outbreaks in Assam in 2020 and 2021, pig mortality and culling resulted in estimated losses of approximately ₹276 crore.
In Mizoram, ASF outbreaks have reportedly affected more than 11,382 households up to 2025, resulting in an estimated financial loss of approximately ₹982 crore.
These outbreaks have highlighted the urgent need for an effective indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine to strengthen disease preparedness, protect farmers’ livelihoods and build resilience in the country’s pig farming sector.
Addressing this critical challenge, scientists at ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal, have developed India’s first indigenous MA-104 Cell Line-Based Live Attenuated African Swine Fever Vaccine for pigs.
Developed using a novel attenuated ASFV Genotype II virus with unique gene deletions in the MA-104 cell line, the vaccine is described as a major breakthrough in veterinary research and is well suited for large-scale production.
The African Swine Fever Vaccine has successfully undergone comprehensive laboratory evaluation, including sterility, purity, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity, protective efficacy and virulence reversion studies.
It was also field validated in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, further establishing its safety and efficacy 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 14 days after the primary vaccination.
The indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine is expected to substantially reduce pig mortality, minimise economic losses and improve the livelihoods of pig farmers across the country.
By providing an effective preventive tool against one of the world’s most destructive livestock diseases, it is expected to strengthen India’s animal health security and support the sustainable growth of the pig farming sector.
Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, said: “This breakthrough marks the dawn of a new era in veterinary science.
It reflects India’s growing scientific capability to develop world-class animal health solutions and paves the way for a new generation of indigenously developed vaccines and innovative technologies that will strengthen livestock health, enhance disease preparedness, and support the nation’s food and biosecurity.”
At present, only a couple of commercially licensed ASF vaccines are available in Vietnam. These vaccines are produced using patented proprietary cell lines.
In contrast, the indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine developed by ICAR-NIHSAD uses the widely available MA-104 cell line, making it a major technological breakthrough.
This eliminates dependence on proprietary manufacturing platforms, enables large-scale vaccine production and significantly reduces manufacturing costs.
The development of the indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine is expected to strengthen India’s veterinary research ecosystem while enhancing national biosecurity and supporting sustainable livestock development.
