ASIA-PACIFIC: EPICENTRE OF THE ASF

Since the presence of African Swine Fever was first reported in China in August 2018, its expansion in Asia and the Pacific area has been steadily increasing. The virus has become a serious problem as this region covers more than 60 percent of the world’s domestic pig population. According to the data of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), in the second quarter of 2020, 56% of all domestic pig deaths worldwide due to African Swine Fever (ASF) were concentrated in Asia, and this figure increases to 82%, the equivalent of 6.7 million animals, if deaths produced since 2016 are counted.

Cumulative reported outbreaks since 2018 to October 2020. Source OIE

According to OIE data, 83,259 pigs died between 24 March and 9 July; 46,220 in Asia, 36,838 in Europe and 201 in Africa. In the case of Asia, the largest number of ASF outbreaks was concentrated in the Philippines, where 21,257 animals died between May and July alone, followed by Vietnam with 6,054 records and China with 10,029 animals.

Also noteworthy is the rapid spread of the virus throughout the Southwest Pacific region where outbreaks were first reported in Papua New Guinea and India, with four and 11 outbreaks respectively, in addition to the 215 cases within South Korea.

As of july 2020 the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported an outbreak of African Swine Fever that was detected in the central region of Chongqing in a group of 70 piglets (14 had contracted the disease and two had died), this would be the first outbreak since the end of July.