ASF Spreads in Southeast Asia… Laos and Philippines on High Alert for Disease Control

Concerns are growing regarding pork production and distribution as African Swine Fever (ASF) continues in Southeast Asia.
According to the Lao government, as of September 24, ASF had spread to seven provinces, with 14,002 pigs killed or culled. Approximately 79% of the affected pigs were raised on small-scale farms, and economic losses were estimated at over 58.8 billion kip.
Authorities in Laos are restricting the movement of pigs and pork around the affected areas and operating regional quarantine zones. African Swine Fever (ASF) is also continuing in the Philippines. According to data from the Bureau of Animal Industry and Investigation (BAI), as of September 4, active cases were confirmed in 12 regions, 29 provinces, and 154 barangays.
Following the approval of the commercial sale of the ASF vaccine last September, the Philippine government has also set out to establish guidelines for post-vaccination monitoring. Although ASF does not infect humans, it can significantly impact production and distribution due to high pig mortality rates and movement restrictions. As ASF persists in major pork-producing countries in Southeast Asia, it is necessary to pay attention to future changes in regional pork supply, demand, and prices.