The Battle Against African Swine Fever (ASF) Worldwide

Introduction

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a very contagious virus that affects both domestic and wild pigs. It is a big worry for the pig farming industry all around the world. In this article, we will talk about ASF, how it spreads, what it is doing, and what the world is trying to do about it.

ASF Goes Global

ASF is not stuck in one place. It is spread across the world and can now be found on different continents. It started in Africa but has made its way to other parts of the world. It has been tough in Africa, and it is also a problem in Europe, Asia, and some parts of the Americas.

Europe's Battle

In Europe, ASF is causing big problems for both pig farms and wild boar populations.

Present for a longer period of time, the spread of AVF is almost constant. For example, statistics dating from September 2021 says the disease had a presence in several European countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden. Three Member States (Belgium, Czechia, and Greece) had initially managed to get rid of the disease, but it came back due to the natural movement of wild boar populations.

From January 2021 until July 2023, the counted animal losses (death plus animals that were killed) is 1,483,757 animals.

Impact on the Pig Business

Money Problems: When pigs get sick with ASF, they must be put down, and it leads to less pork to sell. Sometimes, that makes pork prices go up. This hurts pig farmers and others in the pig business.
Supply Chain Issues: ASF causes problems all along the chain, from the people who make pig food to those who process and export pork. This leads to instability and financial losses.

Stopping the Spread

Countries with ASF are taking strong actions to stop it:

Getting Rid of Sick Pigs: When pigs get ASF, they must be put down, and biosecurity measures are increased to stop the disease from spreading.
No Pig Moves: They stop pigs and pork products from moving around to prevent the virus from spreading.
Looking for a Vaccine: People are trying hard to find a vaccine for ASF to prevent it from spreading.

Ongoing Research

Understanding ASF and finding ways to stop it is important:

Working Together: Global groups like the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are helping countries control ASF and giving advice on how to prevent it.
Vaccine Research: Scientists are working to create a safe and effective vaccine for ASF. They are getting support from programs like HORIZON 2020 and Horizon Europe.

In Conclusion

ASF is a big challenge for pig farming around the world. It is a problem in many places. Even with strong actions and research, it is still a problem. We need to keep working together and finding new ways to fight ASF and protect pig farming.