African Swine Fever outbreak in China and Southeast Asia

An outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) has spread across multiple Chinese provinces, including Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, and Fujian. In Jiangxi, the impact has been severe, affecting approximately 80% of small-scale farmers and 40% of large-scale pig farms. Some reports indicate near 100% fatality rates in acute cases, and farmers have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of vaccines, noting that even vaccinated pigs have fallen ill.

The outbreak has caused market instability, characterized by price drops in some areas due to panic selling and a total lack of buyers in others. There are also reports of diseased or culled pigs being diverted to processing plants.

As the situation progresses, farmers in Guangxi, Hunan, and Chongqing continue to report suspected outbreaks amid falling pig prices. While Chinese authorities have not publicly confirmed a widespread ASF outbreak—reporting only a foot-and-mouth disease case in Chongqing—farmers continue to report illnesses and herd clearances online.

Additionally, ASF has been confirmed in Laos and Vietnam. In Laos, the disease has affected seven provinces and resulted in the loss of over 14,000 pigs. Unverified allegations suggest that diseased pigs from Laos may be transported across the border into China for processing, raising concerns about the potential entry of infected livestock into the food chain.