The outbreak of African swine fever (AFS) amid the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed as many as 13,382 domestic pigs, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora said.

Our Task Force is taking all possible preventive measures to protect the pigs from the dreaded disease, Bora said.

Earlier, Bora said combating AFS was proving to be a challenge, since no vaccine or medicine has been discovered so far.

"The AFS mortality rate is almost 100%. The focus is on preventing the disease from spreading and we have worked out some plans in consultation with officials, veterinary experts and pig farmers," he said.