In Asia, African swine fever (ASF) has returned to affect domestic pigs in new areas of Bhutan and Thailand, while further cases are confirmed in India, Indonesia, and South Korea. There have also been new outbreaks in seven European states, including first cases in this population in the German state of Hesse. Also in Germany, ASF virus has been detected for the first time in Rhineland-Palatinate.
In South Asia, the Kingdom of Bhutan had officially declared freedom from the disease in two districts, according to recent notifications to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) from the national animal health agency. Declarations came after outbreaks this year, which affected a small farm in the southeast of the country, and a single wild boar in the north.
However, within two days at the end of June, presence of the ASF virus was confirmed after a spike in pig mortality at two more farms. These were located in two different districts from the previous outbreaks, and the cases represent the first for these districts. Affected were premises with 169 animals in Wangdue Phodrang in central Bhutan, and another with 128 pigs in the central-western district of Punakha.
Both of these were commercial farms, according to KuenselOnline.
The nation’s swine owners are urged to step up biosecurity at their units, stop feeding kitchen waste to their animals, prevent contact with wild pigs and report unusual hog deaths to the authorities.
There are approximately 34,000 pigs in Bhutan, reports the same source. Since ASF first struck the country in 2020, cases have been identified in 10 districts. In all, 2,740 pigs have been culled to halt the spread of the virus.
In the Northern region of the Kingdom of Thailand, pigs in a village herd in Chiang Mai province tested positive for the ASF virus in early June.
One of the animals died, and the remaining 69 were culled, according to the WOAH report, which includes the declaration that the disease situation is already “resolved.” Source of infection is attributed to the feeding of inadequately heated swill and/or to stray dogs attracted to the adjacent waste collection center, which was separated from the pigs by an incomplete fence.
ASF developments elsewhere in Asia
In northeastern India, ASF has continued its spread in the state of Mizoram.
Since the end of June, a further 1,371 pigs have died and 2,391 more culled, reported India Today NE this week. For the year to date, the totals had reached 5,321 and 10,040, respectively, with cases confirmed in 159 communities across the state.
There has also been a sharp jump in ASF outbreaks reported in Indonesia.
Since the start of 2024, 308 outbreaks directly affecting 5,134 domestic swine have been recorded by the national animal health information system (as of July 11).
Compared with seven days previously, there have been 64 additional outbreaks, impacting 2,625 pigs. All of these appear to have been in the same province — East Nusa Tenggara.
As well as a further 18 confirmed ASF cases in the wild boar population over the past week, Pig & People reports a further outbreak in South Korea’s commercial pigs. It brings to 44 the country’s total outbreaks in this population since 2019.
Latest to be affected was a farm with 1,117 pigs in North Gyeongsang — the same eastern province as the previous outbreak, but in a different county.
On confirmation of this latest outbreak, the prime minister ordered local authorities to step up disease containment measures. According to the Yonhap news agency, these include culling, suspended pig movements, and epidemiological investigations.
ASF vaccines offer hope for disease control
The agriculture secretary said that approval of ASF vaccines is expected within two weeks, reported the official Philippine News Agency on July 5. Authorization will be granted by the nation’s Food and Drug Administration of two vaccines from Vietnam that have been tested under laboratory conditions.
According to the assistant secretary, the vaccines could be rolled out more widely in the Philippines in a controlled manner this year. This will help the authorities to identify any adverse impacts on the animals.
Almost one year ago, Vietnamese authorities authorized the world’s first ASF vaccines for domestic use.
Vietnam’s agriculture ministry has recently announced that the ASF situation is now broadly under control, reported Nong Nghiep. Furthermore, it added that domestic pork supplies are stabilizing.
However, the report also refers to figures that show more than 39,000 hogs have been culled in Vietnam due to ASF since the start of the year — a figure three times higher than in 2023. Furthermore, cases have been confirmed in 44 cities and provinces, which is three more than reported in mid-June.
Virus detected in domestic pigs, wild boar in new German states
For the first time, a swine herd has tested positive for the ASF virus in the central German state of Hesse. Affected were nine backyard animals, according to the latest official notification to WOAH.
In the period July 4-10, seven European countries recorded new ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs through the Animal Disease Information System of the European Commission (EC).
Of the 62 latest outbreaks, 45 were in Serbia, six in Romania, five in Poland, three in Ukraine, and one in each of Germany, Latvia and Lithuania.
In 2024 to date, 12 countries have confirmed one or more cases in this population with the EC. Registering the most outbreaks have been Serbia (110 so far), Romania (76), Ukraine (23), Bosnia-Herzegovina (19) and Poland (17).
According to the Polish chief veterinary office, the most recent outbreak was detected in the largest herd to be affected so far this year. Located in the central province of Greater Poland (Wielkopolskie), it comprised 2,766 pigs.
Nine European states have notified the EC about 122 additional ASF outbreaks in their respective wild boar populations over the past week.
Latest cases were in Poland (30), Italy (23), Latvia (21), Germany (17), Hungary (13), Serbia and Slovakia (each with five), and Estonia (one).
So far in 2024, Italy has registered the highest number of ASF cases in its wild population at 1,042, followed by Poland (1,023), Latvia (391), Lithuania (324), Hungary (236) and Germany (162).
Latest wild boar cases in Germany include the first of the disease ever to be detected in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
From the WOAH notification, two infected animals appear to have been found near to the border with Hesse. The first ever positive ASF test in that state was confirmed in mid-June.
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