KPL
African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious and deadly disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, continues to pose a serious threat to pig farming in Laos, according to Dr. Vatthana Theppanya, Deputy Head of the Division of Veterinary Services under the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
(KPL) African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious and deadly disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, continues to pose a serious threat to pig farming in Laos, according to Dr. Vatthana Theppanya, Deputy Head of the Division of Veterinary Services under the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Dr. Vatthana shared the update during a “One Health” fact-checking seminar for journalists held in March in Vientiane. He highlighted the ongoing challenges Laos faces in managing ASF since its first outbreak in the country in 2019.
ASF, a hemorrhagic viral disease with nearly 100% mortality in pigs, has swept across 16 countries in Asia and the Pacific since it was first detected in China in 2018. Laos is among the affected countries, along with Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and others. The disease does not affect humans but has devastated pig populations, severely impacting livelihoods and driving pork prices higher due to widespread shortages.
A new outbreak has been confirmed in Xaysomboun Province. In Nongvaeng village, Thathom district, over 50 pigs have died within the past month and a half. Test results from pigs in Vang Hai village also confirmed ASF, prompting authorities to declare multiple villages in the province at risk.
In February 2025, ASF was officially confirmed after the District Agriculture and Forestry Office collected and tested blood samples at the Animal Disease Center. Following the confirmation, Xaysomboun was designated a "Red Zone" to contain the spread.
Authorities have since banned the sale and processing of infected pork. Enhanced surveillance, movement restrictions, and strict biosecurity measures have been implemented. Villagers are urged to report pigs showing symptoms such as high fever (up to 42°C), dark red skin patches, abdominal lesions, or sudden death.
When ASF first hit Laos in 2019, over 20,000 pigs died and an additional 6,000 were culled to contain the spread. The government responded by creating Red Zones (areas with confirmed infections) and Yellow Zones (within a 3-km radius of Red Zones for surveillance). Temporary bans on the import of live pigs and pork products were also enacted.
Although ASF cannot infect humans, the virus remains resilient—surviving for up to three years in frozen meat and one year in dried meat—making eradication challenging. Authorities emphasize the importance of community cooperation, regular inspections, and adherence to disease control protocols.
Dr. Vatthana concluded by stressing the urgency of multi-sectoral collaboration under the One Health framework to safeguard animal health, food security, and rural livelihoods.
#OneHealth#
KPL
