Vietnam is facing a growing outbreak of African swine fever. Swineweb.com says state media reports the number of infections has more than tripled in only two weeks. That’s triggering urgent government intervention and raising fresh concerns about global pork supply chains.
As of early August, more than 900 outbreaks have been reported in Vietnam, up sharply from just over 500 in mid-July. Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture says the number of infected pigs soared from 30,000 to more than 100,000.
The quick rise in case numbers has prompted Vietnam’s prime minister to issue an urgent directive calling on all provinces and relevant agencies to take immediate action to contain the virus. The government fears the disease will disrupt domestic food supplies and further destabilize the pork market.
Vietnam made headlines in 2023 as the first country to commercially deploy an ASF vaccine; however, the cost and lack of efficacy are preventing wider usage.