ASF: Widespread outbreaks continue

African swine fever (ASF) has expanded its geographical range significantly, making control and eradication increasingly challenging. Despite these obstacles, global control of ASF remains possible with sustained efforts and international cooperation, according to World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) report titled: The State of the World’s Animal Health.

From 1 January 2024 to 25 May 2025, the WOAH received reports from 51 countries and territories, reporting a total of 14,918 outbreaks (3,678 in domestic pigs and 11,240 in wildlife).

These outbreaks resulted in 386,089 reported cases, with 605,225 animal losses in domestic pigs. The geographical distribution of the outbreaks in 2024 and early 2025 highlights the expansion of the disease across borders.

Notably, three countries reported the first occurrence of ASF during 2024: Montenegro in January, Albania in February, and Sri Lanka in October. The spread of ASF to Sri Lanka marked the most significant ‘disease jump’ of the year, with a transmission distance of more than 1,800 km from the nearest outbreaks.

Among the countries already affected, significant spread occurred in regions such as Bhutan, Côte d’Ivoire, Germany and Poland, which reported outbreaks in 2024. The Philippines reported the highest number of outbreaks in domestic pigs (1,269 outbreaks). The disease also poses a serious threat to biodiversity, with ASF detected in the Visayan warty pig in the Philippines, a critically endangered species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Given the global impact of ASF on the pig industry and wildlife, the development of ASF vaccines has become a priority. Recent advancements in modified live vaccines have provided hope for controlling ASF. However, the WOAH has cautioned against the use of substandard vaccines, as they may not provide effective protection and could even exacerbate the spread of the disease. The WOAH continues to develop standards for ASF vaccines, aiming to ensure that any vaccines used in the field are safe and effective.

The WOAH and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have launched a joint initiative under the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases, aimed at bringing together governments, industries and specialists to assist countries in controlling ASF.

World Organization for Animal Health (2025). The State of the World’s Animal Health 2025. Paris, 120pp. https://doi.org/10.20506/woah….. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

Tags: African Swine Fever, Disease, Pigs, outbreaks, WOAH