title: Epidemiological Overview of African Swine Fever in Uganda (2001-2012).
abstract: African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral disease, which can cause up to 100% mortality among domestic pigs. In Uganda there is paucity of information on the epidemiology of the disease, hence a study was carried out to elucidate the patterns of ASF outbreaks. Spatial and temporal analyses were performed with data collected monthly by the district veterinary officers (DVOs) and sent to the central administration at MAAIF from 2001 to 2012. Additionally, risk factors and the associated characteristics related to the disease were assessed based on semistructured questionnaires sent to the DVOs. A total of 388 ASF outbreaks were reported in 59 districts. Of these outbreaks, 201 (51.8%) were reported in districts adjacent to the national parks while 80 (20.6%) were adjacent to international borders. The number of reported ASF outbreaks changed over time and by geographical regions; however, no outbreak was reported in the North-Eastern region. ASF was ranked as second most important disease of pigs, and it occurred mostly during the dry season (P = 0.01). Pig movements due to trade (OR 15.5, CI 4.9-49.1) and restocking (OR 6.6, CI 2.5-17.3) were the major risk factors. ASF control strategies should focus on limiting pig movements in Uganda.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda ; National Agricultural Research Organization, National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P.O. Box 96, Tororo, Uganda.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalenzi Atuhaire
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Sylvester
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ochwo
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afayoa
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Norbert Mwiine
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Ikwap
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kokas
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre, P.O. Box 513, Entebbe, Uganda.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arinaitwe
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre, P.O. Box 513, Entebbe, Uganda.
authors.forename: Rose Anna
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ademun-Okurut
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boniface Okuni
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanteza
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre, P.O. Box 513, Entebbe, Uganda.
authors.forename: Christosom
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ayebazibwe
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural Research Organization, National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P.O. Box 96, Tororo, Uganda.
authors.forename: Loyce
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Okedi
authors.affiliation: African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources, P.O. Box 30786, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Olaho-Mukani
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Lonzy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ojok