Cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been recorded in two private households in Sumy region, Ukraine's State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service reported on Wednesday.

Biosecurity service specialists tested the biological material. African Swine Fever (ASF) virus was revealed. Specialists are coordinating measures to prevent ASF spreading.

Since early 2016, nine ASF cases have been recorded in Poltava, Odesa, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad and Khmelnytsky regions.

Six ASF cases were recorded in Sumy region in 2015.

The ASF virus is the causative agent of ASF. The virus causes a hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in pigs, but persistently infects its natural hosts, warthogs, bush pigs and soft ticks of the Ornithodoros genus, without any visible symptoms. There is currently no vaccine against ASF.