Part I: Foundational Knowledge on African Swine Fever (Source: JVSF)

The State of Pig Farming in Vietnam

Vietnam’s pork consumption is forecast to reach approximately 3.9 million tons in 2025, an increase of 3.3% from the previous year, and is projected to hit 4.7 million tons by 2030, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 3.1%.

However, the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) epidemic is causing supply shortages, leading to high pig prices as demand outstrips supply. This poses immense difficulties and challenges for current livestock producers.

What is African Swine Fever (ASF)?

African Swine Fever is a dangerous infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV).

Image of the African Swine Fever virus

The disease is characterized by rapid spread and occurs in all pig species (both domestic and wild). It is transmitted among herds through contact with the blood and bodily fluids of infected pigs, affecting pigs of all ages and types. The disease causes severe losses with mortality rates up to 100%. The ASFV is highly resistant to environmental conditions. Recovered pigs can carry the virus for long periods, potentially becoming lifelong carriers, making eradication extremely difficult once an outbreak occurs.

Characteristics of the African Swine Fever Virus

The African Swine Fever virus is present in the blood, organs, and secretions of infected pigs. The virus is highly resistant and can survive at room temperature: in raw or undercooked pork, the virus can survive for 3-6 months; it survives for 70 minutes at 56°C; 20 minutes at 60°C; 5 weeks in decomposed blood; 70 days in dried blood; 11 days in feces at room temperature; 18 months in blood at 40°C; 150 days in bone-in meat at 39°C, and 140 days in ham.

Routes of African Swine Fever Transmission

The virus is transmitted through the respiratory and digestive tracts, via direct or indirect contact with contaminated objects such as: pens, transport vehicles, tools, equipment, contaminated clothing, and leftover food containing infected pork. The disease does not transmit to humans, but humans are one of the agents that spread the virus.

Symptoms of the Disease

The incubation period is from 3 to 15 days. The disease has several main forms:

Peracute Form

Pigs often show no clinical signs or are merely lethargic with a high fever before dying quickly.

Acute Form

• Pigs have a prolonged high fever (40.5 – 43°C), loss of appetite, and immobility.
• The skin turns red on the ears, tail, and legs; it may turn bluish-purple on the chest and abdomen.
• Before death, pigs exhibit neurological symptoms, unsteady gait, rapid breathing, vomiting, constipation, etc.

Recovered pigs can carry the virus for life and are a dangerous source of infection.

Subacute Form

• Pigs have a mild or no fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and difficulty breathing.
• Pigs have difficulty walking, may suffer from arthritis, and have a high risk of miscarriage.
• The mortality rate is 30-70% after about 15 to 45 days of infection.

Prevention Measures for African Swine Fever

With a mortality rate near 100%, prevention is extremely critical. Common measures include:

• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting pens, transport vehicles, and farming equipment.
• Enhancing care and providing nutrient-rich feed to boost resistance.
• Administering other required vaccines on schedule (Classical Swine Fever, PRRS, FMD, etc.).
• Practicing personal hygiene and disinfection for farm personnel.
• Having a standard system for waste collection and treatment.
• Immediately isolating, testing, and handling any suspected cases.
• Eliminating intermediate disease vectors like flies, mosquitoes, ants, etc.
• Not buying, selling, or using pigs and products of unknown origin.
• Complying with restocking regulations, selecting healthy breeding stock, and implementing a 2-month quarantine.

What to Do When an Outbreak Occurs

• Promptly inform veterinary authorities and local government.
• Cull infected herds and at-risk herds according to guidelines.
• Establish quarantine and buffer zones to apply technical measures.
• Do not use sick or suspected sick pigs (they must be incinerated).
• Immediately halt the transportation of pigs and pig products out of the affected area.

Organic Carbon: A Root-Cause Prevention Solution

Based on an analysis of control measures, it is clear that optimizing herd health and strengthening the immune system play a central role. The farming environment must be comprehensively improved, minimizing toxic gases and pathogens. For African Swine Fever, preventing infection is the most critical step.

One such solution is the application of Organic Carbon, a product that helps improve the living environment and enhance livestock efficiency. This is a new material from Japan, synthesized with modern technology, possessing extremely high ion absorption capacity, which helps to rapidly break down waste and toxic gases in the environment.

Organic Carbon absorbs and breaks down gases like H₂S, NH₃, etc.

Superior Efficacy in Livestock Farming

• Toxic Gas Treatment: Effectively eliminates NH₃ and H₂S – causes of respiratory decline and reduced weight gain, thereby strengthening the pigs’ immune systems.
• Control of Insects and Pathogens: Rapid waste decomposition reduces the food source for flies and maggots and inhibits disease-causing bacteria.
• Increased Productivity: A clean environment helps pigs grow uniformly, reduces disease, and shortens the time to market.

A Final Word from JVSF

The content of this article has been compiled by JVSF from domestic and international research to provide a comprehensive perspective on African Swine Fever and proactive prevention solutions. JVSF hopes that farmers will apply scientific measures like Organic Carbon to:

• Minimize the risk of disease outbreaks, protecting long-term investment.
• Move towards sustainable farming that is environmentally friendly.

With the motto “Prevention is the foundation of success,” JVSF believes that combining advanced technology and strict management will help control ASF effectively, bringing long-term economic benefits to the livestock industry.

Source: Compiled by JVSF from specialized documents, media data, and practical research.

Part II: In-depth Analysis of the Disease Situation in Vietnam (2024-2025)

National Epidemiological Statistics: The Scale and Scope of the Crisis

Vietnam’s pig farming industry is facing a prolonged and increasingly complex crisis due to African Swine Fever (ASF). Data from the 2024-2025 period indicates the epidemic has entered a new, more dangerous phase.

In 2024, the country recorded 1,609 ASF outbreaks across 48 provinces and cities, forcing the culling of nearly 90,000 pigs. The situation did not improve moving into 2025, with 636 new outbreaks recorded in the first 7 months of the year in 30 provinces and cities, leading to the culling of over 43,000 more pigs. As of the end of July 2025, 256 outbreaks in 26 provinces were still considered “active,” indicating that disease pressure remains high.

These figures show that ASF has transitioned from an outbreak crisis to an endemic disease in Vietnam. The virus has become deeply embedded in the environment and the supply chain, demanding a strategic shift from “outbreak stamping” to “long-term disease management.”

Furthermore, official statistics may not fully reflect the true scale of the disaster, as the practice of farmers “hiding outbreaks, panic-selling sick pigs, or dumping carcasses into the environment” persists.

Analysis of Infection Sources: Inherent Weaknesses in the Farming Model

The primary reason for the uncontrollable spread of the disease is the prevalence of small-scale farming models that fail to meet biosecurity standards. This model, which accounts for approximately 50% of total pork production, carries significant epidemiological risks:

• Proximity of pens to living areas: Creates numerous uncontrolled points of contact.
• Use of food scraps: The habit of feeding pigs untreated leftover food is an open invitation for pathogens.
• Lack of cleaning and disinfection protocols: Transport vehicles, tools, and clothing become fomites.
• Poor waste management: Creates long-term reservoirs for pathogens in the environment.

Complex weather factors such as heavy rains and floods exacerbate the situation, spreading pathogens over a wide geographical area.

Regional and Global Context: Vietnam is Not Alone

Vietnam’s fight against ASF is part of a global crisis. In 2024, the world recorded 9,255 outbreaks in 44 countries. Southeast Asia is one of the hottest fronts, with 9 countries currently battling the disease.

The emergence of a new recombinant ASF virus strain (genotype I/II) in China in 2023 and subsequently in Vietnam in 2024 is clear evidence of cross-border transmission. This indicates that illegal animal trade and transport have become a “superhighway” for the virus, demanding stricter international cooperation mechanisms.

The Vaccine Paradox: Technological Achievement Meets Deployment Crisis

Vietnam’s Vaccine Achievement: A National Pride

Vietnam has become the first country in the world to successfully research and commercialize an ASF vaccine. Two main products, NAVET-ASFVAC and AVAC ASF LIVE, have been licensed for circulation, showing high protective efficacy and have been exported to several countries.

The Paradox of Low Vaccination Rates: A “Steel Shield” Not Reaching the People

Despite the technological achievement, the actual vaccination rate nationwide is extremely low. From 2023 to mid-2025, only about 957,000 pigs were vaccinated out of a total herd of tens of millions. The main reasons include:

• Complacency and cost concerns among smallholder farmers.
• Weaknesses and shortages in the local veterinary system.
• Legal barriers: The ASF vaccine is not yet on the list of mandatory vaccinations, leaving localities without a legal basis to subsidize the cost for farmers.

The New Threat: Emergence of the Recombinant ASFV Genotype I/II Strain

An in-depth scientific study has shown that both of Vietnam’s commercial vaccines (developed from genotype II virus) do not provide effective protection against the newly emerging recombinant genotype I/II strain. Vaccinated pigs still became infected and died when challenged with the new strain. Officials also admit that a significant proportion of currently infected pigs are due to this new strain.

The Race for a New Generation Solution

Faced with this threat, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has “commissioned research institutes and enterprises to quickly develop a new generation of vaccines” capable of effectively combating the recombinant virus strain, kicking off a new technological race.

Economic Shocks and the Transformation of the Livestock Industry

The Price of the Epidemic: Market Volatility and Supply Chain Instability

The epidemic has caused severe supply shortages, pushing live pig prices to record highs. In early 2025, the price of live pigs at times exceeded 80,000 VND/kg, an increase of nearly 40% compared to the same period in 2024. However, high prices were met with weak purchasing power, as consumers shifted to alternative food sources.

A Darwinian Shift: The Decline of Smallholder Farms

The ASF crisis is accelerating the restructuring of the livestock industry. Smallholder farmers, unable to meet biosecurity requirements, are gradually being forced out. The market share of this group is projected to decline from 45% (in 2024) to just 10-15% by 2027. Meanwhile, large-scale industrial farming enterprises, with their closed-loop models and strong financial backing, are increasingly dominating the market.

Macroeconomic Impact: A Threat to National Economic Goals

Leaders at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have warned that if the ASF issue is not resolved, Vietnam will struggle to meet key economic targets, such as the agricultural export turnover of $70 billion and the 4% growth target for the entire agriculture sector. The epidemic has become a matter of national economic and food security, creating inflationary pressure and complex social issues.

Policy in Action: The Government’s Multi-front War

The government has issued a series of decisive directives, underpinned by the “National Plan for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever, 2020-2025” and urgent dispatches and directives such as Dispatch No. 109/CD-TTg. The directives focus on decisively handling outbreaks, mandatory culling, supporting farmers, controlling transport, and holding local leaders accountable.

However, implementation at the grassroots level still has many gaps, mainly due to a severe shortage of local veterinary personnel, non-compliance by a segment of the population, and policy barriers.

Part III: Strategic Outlook and Recommendations

Beyond the Vaccine: The Mandatory Imperative of Advanced Biosecurity

With the emergence of a vaccine-resistant virus strain and low vaccination rates, comprehensive biosecurity must be elevated to the number one strategic priority. Biosecurity must be viewed as a system of strict physical barriers and scientific protocols, from perimeter control and input management to internal farm management and waste disposal.

A Portfolio of Innovative Prevention Solutions: Integrating Technology into Biosecurity

The livestock industry needs to integrate advanced technologies to create an environment that is “hostile” to the virus. Solutions include:

• Advanced carbon-based adsorbent materials (like Organic Carbon): Helps manage the microclimate of the barn, reducing concentrations of toxic gases like NH₃ and H₂S, thereby improving the respiratory health and immune system of pigs.
• Air filtration and water treatment systems: To remove pathogens from the air and drinking water sources.
• Health monitoring using Artificial Intelligence (AI): To detect early signs of abnormalities in the herd.
• Immunity-boosting nutrition: Supplementing feed with bioactive additives.

A Roadmap to Sustainability: Strategic Recommendations for Stakeholders

For the Government and Regulatory Agencies:

1. Vaccine Policy Reform: Urgently add the ASF vaccine to the list of mandatory vaccinations to remove legal barriers and create a basis for supporting farmers.
2. Strengthen the Local Veterinary System: Launch a national program to reinvest in and strengthen the commune-level veterinary system, ensuring each commune has at least one dedicated officer.
3. Promote R&D: Increase investment and create mechanisms to accelerate research into next-generation vaccines with cross-protection capabilities.

For Large-Scale Livestock Enterprises:

1. Lead in Technology Adoption: Become a pioneering model in applying advanced biosecurity and high technology.
2. Build Linkage Chains: Develop linkage models with satellite farms to create secure “buffer zones.”

For Smallholder Farmers:

1. Shift the Production Mindset: Accept that “prevention is better than cure” is the only path forward, abandoning risky habits.
2. Link Up to Survive: Proactively join cooperatives or linkage chains to access capital, technology, and markets.

In summary, the future of Vietnam’s pig farming industry lies in the mandatory and intelligent integration of biosecurity and vaccination, within a modern and sustainable farming model supported by advanced technology.