"The risk of African swine fever is on an upward trend, negatively impacting the pig farming industry, food security, and the environment," the government said in an official statement.
ASF has long destabilized the global pork market. During the worst outbreak in 2018–2019 in China — the world’s largest pork producer — nearly half of the domestic pig population was lost, causing economic damage estimated at over $100 billion.
The worsening epidemiological situation in Vietnam prompted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to issue an urgent directive this week, instructing provincial authorities and state agencies to implement immediate measures to contain the disease.
In 2023, Vietnam approved the commercial use of the world's first domestically developed ASF vaccine. However, according to officials, vaccination rates remain low. In Quang Ngai province, where new cases have recently been detected, only about 30% of pigs have been vaccinated, according to the local veterinary service.
reuters.com