9. CONCLUSION
African Swine Fever in India has probably emerged through a neighbouring country, that shares its border with India. Genetic characterization and molecular evolutionary analysis to trace the ancestors of the present outbreak are ongoing. As per the recent statement from OIE, outbreaks of ASF in India lead to a current count of over 3700 dead pigs in affected regions (OIE, 2020b). The current statistics and data on the number of pigs died due to the disease are still undergoing revisions and will be updated soon by Animal Husbandry departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states of India. In the present study, we identified the underlying risk factors that might favour future outbreaks of ASF in the Indian pig population. On qualitative risk assessment analysis, we observed that the identified risk factors are well preserved in Indian geography and might participate in future outbreaks in the country or disseminating the disease to nearby countries. Therefore, the described risk factors should be critically considered and each risk factor should be reassessed at a regional level. Immediate containment measures should be implemented to control the disease, followed by establishing a strategic research plan on surveillance and sero-epidemiology of ASF on domestic and wild pig-population. Studies on the involvement of biological vectors in the perpetuation and transmission of ASFV is also important to estimate these risks more accurately in Indian scenario.