African swine fever threatens wild pig biodiversity and livestock

African swine fever (ASF) is posing a significant threat to both biodiversity and food security. In Asia, the highly virulent virus has caused near-total mortality in immunologically naive wild pig populations. This has led the 2025 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List to uplist several taxa, including babirusas and warty pigs, as some of the region’s most threatened vertebrate groups.

To combat the spread and prevent extinctions, experts recommend a ‘One Health’ response involving expanded surveillance, strengthened in situ protection, and investment in vaccine research.

On the agricultural front, biosecurity remains critical to preventing the virus from entering farms via animals, people, vehicles, or contaminated feed. Experts emphasize the importance of isolating domestic herds from wild suids, such as warthogs and bushpigs, through double-fencing and buffer zones. Additionally, farmers are advised to use only verified, traceable supply chains when sourcing new stock to minimize transmission risks.