Global African Swine Fever (ASF) Situation: An Ongoing Threat and the Critical Role of Rapid Diagnostics
Aug 21,2025
Global African Swine Fever (ASF) Situation: An Overview
African Swine Fever remains a severe and ongoing global threat to the swine industry, food security, and biodiversity. Despite extensive efforts, the virus continues to spread to new regions.
Key Statistics (Recent WOAH Data):
51+ countries and regions have reported outbreaks.
Over 14,000 outbreaks reported between early 2024 and May 25, 2025.
3,678 outbreaks in domestic pigs.
11,240 outbreaks in wild boar.
Regional Breakdown of the Outbreak
Southeast Asia: Severe and Widespread
Vietnam: The situation is critical, with outbreaks reported in 34 out of 64 provinces. The p72 genotype II virus strain, with a near 100% mortality rate, is prevalent. Over 60,000 pigs were culled in just one province (Quang Ngai) in a month and a half.
Philippines: Reported the highest number of domestic pig outbreaks globally during this period. The virus also threatens the critically endangered Visayan warty pig.
Europe: Persistent Challenge in Domestic and Wild Populations
The virus is endemic in wild boar populations across many countries, including Poland, Germany, Hungary, Romania, and the Baltic states.
Spillover from wild boar to domestic pig farms is a constant risk, leading to severe economic losses. For instance, Estonia recently lost approximately 10% of its national pig herd in a few months.
North America: High Alert and Preparedness
No cases have been reported in the United States or Canada.
Countries are on high alert, with strict border controls and detailed contingency plans in place. An outbreak would immediately halt pork exports, causing massive economic damage. For example, Manitoba, Canada, where 90% of pork production is exported, has proactively developed robust response strategies.
Impact of the Pandemic
Direct Economic Losses: Massive culling of herds, costs of disposal, and disinfection.
Trade Disruption: Immediate export bans are imposed by trading partners upon the detection of a single case.
Threat to Food Security and Livelihoods: Small-scale farmers are often devastated, leading to increased pork prices and protein shortages.
Biodiversity Threat: The virus infects and kills wild suids, pushing already endangered species like the Visayan warty pig closer to extinction.
The Critical Necessity for Rapid Diagnostics
In the fight against ASF, time is the most critical resource. Rapid and accurate diagnostics are the cornerstone of effective control and are essential for several reasons:
1. Seizing the "Golden Window" for Control
ASF has a variable incubation period, and early-stage infection may show no clear clinical signs. Rapid molecular tests (e.g., qPCR) can provide results in 1-2 hours, enabling veterinarians to identify and isolate infected pigs or premises before the virus spreads widely. This allows for targeted "test-and-remove" (or "culling") strategies instead of whole-herd depopulation, saving millions of healthy animals and reducing economic damage.
2. Differentiating Infection from Vaccination (DIVA)
While no commercial ASF vaccine is currently available, this is a key area of research. For other diseases like Classical Swine Fever (CSF), rapid tests that can Distinguish Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) are vital. They allow for continued surveillance and proof of freedom from disease even in vaccinated populations, which is crucial for maintaining international trade status.
3. Adapting to Multiple Scenarios and Enhancing Efficiency
On-Farm Monitoring: Portable, user-friendly diagnostic devices allow for on-site testing. This is crucial for routine monitoring, pre-movement testing, and screening new animals before introducing them to a herd.
Border Control and Transport Hubs: Ultra-rapid qPCR tests (with results in under 30 minutes) can be deployed at airports and seaports to screen luggage and cargo for illegal pork products, acting as a first line of defense against the international spread of the virus.
Outbreak Investigation in Remote Areas: Compact, mobile testing units can be quickly deployed to remote areas to confirm suspected cases, enabling a faster local response and containment.
4. Enabling Data-Driven Prevention and Sustainable Control
The data generated from widespread rapid testing helps build early warning systems and predictive models. This allows governments and industry bodies to allocate resources more effectively and implement precise, science-based control policies instead of broad, disruptive measures.
Conclusion and Outlook
The global ASF situation remains volatile and complex. International cooperation (e.g., through WOAH and FAO initiatives), continued investment in vaccine research, and the adoption of modern farming practices with high biosecurity are all essential.
However, none of these efforts can succeed without a foundation of rapid and reliable diagnostics. It is the tool that turns a reactive response into a proactive defense, minimizing loss and paving the way for sustainable recovery and future resilience in the global swine industry.
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