Vietnam Battles Rapid Surge in African Swine Fever Outbreaks

 

Vietnam is facing a significant spike in African swine fever (ASF) cases, with outbreaks more than doubling in just two weeks. According to local media, the number of outbreaks has risen to 972 across the country, up from 514 in mid-July. The number of infected pigs has jumped from 30,000 to over 100,000 in the same period. 

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These pigs have either died or been culled. The chairman of the Animal Husbandry Association, Nguyen Xuan Duong, warned that no province is currently free from the disease. He emphasized that ASF is now spreading nationwide, posing a serious threat to Vietnam’s livestock industry and pork supply.

African swine fever has long disrupted global pork markets, with the most severe outbreak between 2018 and 2019 killing half of China's pig population. Vietnam’s current outbreak is triggering alarm among government officials, who fear a similar crisis that could deeply impact food security and economic stability.

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In response to the growing outbreak, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an urgent directive to all provinces and government agencies to take stronger control measures. Officials warned that the disease now threatens national food supply chains. While Vietnam was the first country to develop a commercially available ASF vaccine in 2023, the vaccination rate remains low due to ongoing concerns over cost and effectiveness.

Nguyen Xuan Duong clarified that vaccination alone cannot stop ASF and should only support core biosecurity and disease prevention strategies. AVAC Vietnam JSC, the nation’s leading ASF vaccine producer, stated in June that it had sold 3 million vaccine doses locally and exported 600,000 to countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia. However, the company did not respond to recent inquiries about the situation. As ASF continues to spread, officials are urging swift action to prevent further damage to Vietnam’s pork industry and national food security.