High ASF mortality recorded in 2 regions of Nigeria

According to this week’s official report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), African swine fever has not spread to infect additional states in Nigeria.

Macro of Nigeria on a globe, narrow depth of field
Kylie A E | Bigstock.com

Latest reports point to continuing high losses of pigs in 2 Nigerian states that were among the first to confirm a growing challenge from African swine fever.

According to this week’s official report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), African swine fever (ASF) has not spread to infect additional states in Nigeria. The virus is known to be present in 12 states.

In its latest update, the federal agriculture ministry reports the disease spreading within Lagos and Abia. On a scale of zero to 5, the authorities have given a score of 5 to the levels of morbidity and mortality among pigs in those two southern states.

Latest ASF developments in India and the Philippines

Over the past week, no new cases of ASF have been reported by the Philippine News Agency. In recent weeks, the virus has been detected in pigs in 15 villages in North Cotabato on the island of Mindanao. Cases are also reported in Camarines Sur on Luzon.

In the northeast of India, a lack of controlled culling has allowed the virus to continue to spread, according to a recent report in Northeast Now.

Local people point to a slow initial reaction from the authorities in tackling the disease. First, the cause of mortalities was erroneously attributed to classical swine fever. Subsequently, there were delays arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This halted even the most basic of awareness campaigns over the importance of hygiene, and the dangers of swill feeding.

In Arunachal Pradesh, a culling policy was introduced in May to reduce the spread of the infection. According to the report, the authorities in Assam feared the costs of compensating pig owners for animals were culled to control the disease. With an estimated 2.1 million pigs in this state, no such control policy was initiated, and losses are estimated at 16,000-17,000 animals.

According to the OIE, the ASF outbreaks began around January 26, but they were not officially reported until four months later. The organization reports that, as of August 20, 11 outbreaks are ongoing in India, all in the northeast of the country.

South Korea registers 3 more ASF-infected wild boar

Three more wild boar in the northern border area of South Korea have tested positive for the ASF virus. According to the latest official report to the OIE, the animals were found in counties that have recorded multiple previous cases in wild boar.

ASF news from China

No new cases of ASF have been reported by Chinese authorities.

Since the first occurrence in the country in early August 2018, 184 outbreaks have been reported in China, according to the OIE. These covered 31 different administrative divisions, and 166 have been resolved.

Filling the gap in the Chinese pork supply arising from the previous ASF outbreaks is challenging. With a 17 million-ton protein shortage, China faces a long road to achieve the sector’s full recovery.

China has recently reported good progress on the development of a first ASF vaccine. Until a safe and effective vaccine is launched, the authorities are clamping down on the sale and use of illegal and fake products.

View our continuing coverage of the global African swine fever situation.

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