India has achieved a milestone in veterinary healthcare with the development of its first indigenous live attenuated vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious viral disease that has severely impacted the country's pig population since its outbreak in 2020. The breakthrough was announced by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which said the vaccine has been developed by scientists at the ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal.

Named the MA-104 Cell Line-Based Live Attenuated African Swine Fever Vaccine, the candidate has been developed using a novel attenuated ASF Genotype II virus featuring unique gene deletions. Unlike several internationally available vaccines that rely on proprietary cell lines, the Indian vaccine is produced using the widely available MA-104 cell line, enabling cost-effective manufacturing and easier large-scale production.

African swine fever is considered one of the most devastating transboundary animal diseases, affecting both domestic and wild pigs with mortality rates that can reach nearly 100 percent. Since its first detection in India in 2020, the disease has spread across multiple states and Union Territories, disrupting pig farming, restricting animal movement and causing severe financial losses, particularly among smallholder farmers in the North-Eastern region.

According to ICAR, ASF outbreaks in Assam during 2020 and 2021 resulted in estimated economic losses of around INR 276 crore, while the disease has affected more than 11,382 households in Mizoram through 2025, with reported losses nearing INR 982 crore.

The vaccine has successfully completed extensive laboratory evaluations, including assessments for sterility, purity, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity, protective efficacy and virulence reversion. It has also undergone field validation in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, where it demonstrated strong safety and efficacy under real-world conditions.

ICAR recommends the vaccine for healthy pigs above eight weeks of age. It is administered as a 1 mL intramuscular injection, followed by a booster dose after 14 days.

The research body believes the vaccine will play a critical role in reducing pig mortality, limiting economic losses and improving the livelihoods of pig farmers by providing an effective preventive solution against ASF. It is also expected to strengthen India's animal health security and contribute to the sustainable development of the country's pig farming industry.

Highlighting the significance of the achievement, Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, described the development as the beginning of a new era in veterinary science. He said the achievement reflects India's growing capability to develop world-class animal health technologies and paves the way for more indigenous vaccines to strengthen livestock health, disease preparedness and national food and biosecurity.

ICAR also noted that the indigenous vaccine's use of the MA-104 cell line eliminates dependence on patented manufacturing platforms currently used in the limited number of commercially licensed ASF vaccines available globally, offering a scalable and affordable solution for protecting India's pig population.