African swine fever was confined to Africa until 1957 when infection spread through Portugal, Spain, Southern France and Italy. Infection persists in Sardinia, Italy, but has been eradicated from the Italian mainland. Outbreaks have occurred in domestic pigs in a number of African countries outside the areas commonly reporting disease.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly contagious disease characterized by vomiting, diarrhea and inappetence in pigs of all ages. Mortality in young piglets is generally less common than in transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE).