Sri Lanka, June 3 -- The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the appointment of a task force to revive the swine industry in the country which has collapsed due to African swine fever (ASF).

The African swine fever, a highly pathogenic epidemic disease reported in October 2024, first started in the Western Province in Sri Lanka and has now spread to all the provinces.

There is a possibility of the mortality rate increasing up to 100% in a farm infected with this disease. According to the data reported so far, the disease has been reported from 1,594 pig farms, and 61,695 pigs have died, a statement from the Department of Government Information said.

Further, the Department of Wildlife Conservation has reported that the diseas...