SHARING OPTIONS: "It could take weeks longer, perhaps even more than a month longer, before we notice or find the virus." New low virulent strains of African swine fever (ASF) could spread in Ireland undetected, a Canadian pig veterinary expert has warned. “These low virulent strains, if they were to come to Canada or Ireland, could really hamper our early detection efforts,” pig veterinary expert and veterinary counsellor for the Canadian Pork Council Egan Brockhoff has said. The comments came during the first session of the Irish Pig Health Society virtual symposium series 2021, which highlighted global perspectives on ASF. “If we've got low virulent strains, it could take weeks longer, perhaps even more than a month longer, before we notice or find the virus and by then we could have significant spread,” Brockhoff warned.