Small-scale farms hit hardest by African swine fever, FAO reports, as nations ramp up prevention efforts

12 Aug 2019 --- Almost five million pigs in Asia have now died or been culled because of the spread of African swine fever (ASF), according to reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs was first detected in Asia a year ago. With FAO support, countries across the region are ramping up preparedness efforts to prevent further spread of the disease. In this global epidemic, small-scale farms that lack the capital and expertise to mitigate the crisis are hit the hardest, FAO emphasizes.

ASF is present in six Asian countries: Cambodia, China, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam. The latest data provided by FAO indicates that current losses represent more than 10 percent of the total pig population in each of China, Vietnam and Mongolia.

China has culled more than one million pigs since the disease broke out in the country.China has culled more than one million pigs since the disease broke out in the country and ravaged farmed swine populations. In April, live pig stocks were reported to have fallen by around 19 percent in March from a year ago, according to reports by China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

While not dangerous to humans, the disease causes up to 100 percent fatality in pigs, leading to severe economic losses to the pig sector. Prices of pig meat, particularly in China, were reported to have spiked between February and May 2019 in FAO reports. The ASF outbreak notably presented new opportunities to Indian meat exporters who have geared up to plug the gaps in supply.

Since May, Chinese pork processors have been testing for the presence of the virus following a mandate from China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) which insists the country is capable of controlling ASF. However, the losses spreading through China’s pork industry have already begun to shift global pork prices.

“As there is no commercially available vaccine, we need to place greater emphasis on other disease counter efforts. Countries must be vigilant at borders – land, sea or air – in preventing the disease’s entrance and spread through the introduction of infected pigs or contaminated pork products. Outbreaks need to be reported immediately,” says FAO’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Juan Lubroth.

“We are urging at-risk countries to implement effective biosecurity measures to prevent infected live pigs or contaminated pork products from crossing their borders,” he stresses.

African swine fever was first detected in Africa in the 1920s. On top of the Asian outbreak, Europe is currently experiencing a slowly-spreading epidemic among some of its wild pig population and some countries have introduced tight restrictions to limit the movement of wild pigs.

Nine EU member states have been affected by the disease, to varying extents: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania (wild boar and farmed pigs), Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Belgium (wild boar only) and Italy (Sardinia only). As such, the European Commission (EC) has underscored the crucial importance of multi-sectoral cooperation to control ASF to prevent further spread of the epidemic.

In the US, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has adopted a series of ASF-prevention measures which include ramped up coordination with customs and border patrols at key airports and seaports, as well as strengthening inspections. The measures to prevent the spread of ASF to the US are particularly poignant to the US pork industry in lieu of the ongoing trade dispute with China, which has been causing problems for many months now.

Small-scale farms are highly vulnerable
The outbreak is particularly affecting vulnerable small-scale farmers who may lack the capacity or funds to protect their animals from the disease.Vietnam has culled approximately three million pigs in an effort to combat the spread of the disease.

In Vietnam, the pork industry makes up almost 10 percent of the country’s agriculture sector and pork meat accounts for almost three quarters of meat consumed. The country has, to date, culled approximately three million pigs in an effort to curb the spread of the disease, raising concerns that ASF could contribute to an increase in food insecurity in already-challenged communities. 

In China, there are at least 26 million pig farming producers, and about 50 percent of total pork production is by small-scale farmers.

“Some farmers have lost their entire pig herd to the disease and it may take badly-affected countries years to recover from the socio-economic effects of the outbreak,” Lubroth says. 

FAO’s emergency response
FAO’s Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health (EMC-AH) has deployed several response teams to assist countries in curbing the disease, in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The teams worked with veterinary services and government representatives to increase biosecurity measures in and around farms, and advise on effective culling techniques that respect international animal welfare standards. 

The EMC-AH has also responded to requests from ASF-free countries in the Asia region for guidance on protecting against the disease. In addition, the centre activated an ASF Incident Command Group in order to streamline FAO’s activities and better communicate key messages on the disease.

African swine fever facts
The FAO has issued the following points pertaining to ASF:

• The virus is not dangerous to humans, it only affects pigs (domestic and wild).
• It is hardy and can survive for long periods – dried, frozen and cured pork products are at high risk of carrying the virus.
• The virus can be spread through feeding pigs swill containing undercooked contaminated pork.
• Adhering to strict farm biosecurity measures will decrease the chances of the disease spreading or entering at all.
• Strict border control can help to reduce the chances of ASF being introduced into a country.
• There is currently no effective vaccine against the virus.

Curbing the spread of African swine fever
Healthy pigs can become sick through contact with a pig infected with ASF, particularly where blood is present. Infection can also occur if a pig consumes raw contaminated swill or undercooked or raw pork products. Farm workers’ contaminated footwear, clothes, tools or other equipment can also spread infection.

Emphasizing the importance of best practices, the FAO has urged farmers affected by ASF to not move their pigs or pig products, emergency operators and veterinary authorities to oversee pig carcass disposal through burning or burial on location, and for countries to have sound compensation strategies in place to support cooperating farmers.

By Benjamin Ferrer