Jinan Zhuocheng Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

African swine fever (ASF) continues to pose a serious threat to the global swine industry, with outbreaks reported across multiple regions and renewed concerns over cross-border transmission risks. According to the latest International Animal Epidemic Situation Report (Issue 568) released by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on July 29, 2026, a total of 137 animal disease outbreaks were reported across 10 countries within one week, including 66 outbreaks involving domestic pigs. Poland reported 38 wild boar outbreaks, while Croatia recorded 44 domestic pig outbreaks, resulting in the culling of 2,338 pigs.

According to data from the China Animal Disease Control Center, global African swine fever outbreaks reached 5,478 cases in the first half of 2026, with approximately 255,000 domestic pigs and wild boars infected, dead or culled.

ASF Continues to Spread Across Europe and Asia

The latest international epidemic monitoring data shows that ASF remains active across Europe and Asia, with multiple countries experiencing continued outbreaks.

In the wild boar population, several European countries remain under significant pressure. Poland reported 38 wild boar outbreaks across six regions, including the Pomeranian Voivodeship, involving 47 infected and dead animals. Croatia reported 10 outbreaks in Virovitica-Podravina County and other areas, with 10 wild boars affected. Romania recorded three outbreaks involving four wild boars, while Latvia reported 15 cases in multiple regions. Additional wild boar infections were reported in Hungary, Estonia, Bulgaria and Spain.

Among domestic pigs, losses have been particularly severe in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Croatia reported 44 domestic pig outbreaks, involving 103 infected pigs, 43 deaths and 2,338 animals culled. Romania reported 18 outbreaks, with 123 infected pigs, 25 deaths and 98 animals culled. Bosnia and Herzegovina reported three outbreaks in the Republic of Srpska, resulting in four infections, one death and 36 pigs culled. Nepal also reported a domestic pig outbreak involving 12 infected pigs.

ASF Threat Remains Close to China

While China has strengthened prevention and control measures, the risk of virus introduction remains present.

On July 14, 2026, a dead pig carcass was discovered on Xintou Beach in Jinhu Town, Kinmen. Testing by Taiwan’s veterinary authorities confirmed that the carcass was positive for African swine fever virus nucleic acid. Genetic sequencing indicated that the virus belonged to a new recombinant strain currently circulating widely in mainland China.

Authorities believe the carcass may have drifted from coastal areas of southeastern China due to typhoon-related currents, highlighting that marine transmission risks and cross-regional spread remain challenges that cannot be ignored.

Domestic ASF Vaccine Development Advances Along Two Technical Routes

Behind the rising number of global outbreaks are significant economic losses, including mass culling, farm shutdowns and disruptions to pork supply chains. Under increasing external pressure, the progress of domestic ASF vaccine development has become a key focus for the industry.

China is currently advancing two major vaccine technology routes: subunit vaccines and genetically deleted live attenuated vaccines.

In July 2025, Biotech company Biovet’s ASF subunit vaccine received approval from China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to enter clinical trials, becoming the first domestic ASF subunit vaccine candidate approved for clinical evaluation.

In October 2025, large-scale clinical trials were launched across five commercial pig farms in Inner Mongolia, Hubei, Hebei and Gansu, involving 11,005 pigs. In January 2026, the first challenge study used an ultra-high viral dose of 8,000 HAD50 through oral spray administration to simulate natural infection. During the 28-day observation period, all vaccinated pigs survived, while all animals in the control group developed disease and died.

In May 2026, a second challenge study conducted 120 days after booster vaccination again achieved successful protection results. The two key trials met official evaluation requirements, suggesting that a vaccination strategy of “two doses providing protection through the production cycle” may become feasible in large-scale farming environments.

Meanwhile, another domestic technology pathway—the HLJ/18-7GD gene-deleted live attenuated vaccine developed by the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute—has also achieved progress in clinical safety evaluation. Studies in pregnant sows showed no adverse impact on reproductive performance and demonstrated low vertical transmission risk.

The two technical approaches represent a dual-track development strategy for China’s ASF vaccine research, with each offering different advantages.

Vaccines Cannot Replace Biosecurity Systems

Despite encouraging progress, ASF vaccines still require regulatory review, GMP inspections and official batch release procedures before commercialization. For the swine industry, 2026–2027 will remain a critical period in which comprehensive biosecurity measures continue to be the primary defense.

Even after potential commercial approval, vaccines will serve as a risk-reduction tool rather than a complete replacement for biosecurity. ASF viruses continue to evolve, with circulating strains showing increasingly complex genetic characteristics, including genotype I/II recombinant features.

Subunit vaccines are expected to provide strong protection but cannot guarantee complete prevention of infection under all field conditions. Meanwhile, live attenuated vaccines, despite demonstrating improved safety profiles, require strict management due to potential risks associated with viral replication and transmission.

Looking ahead, China’s swine industry will increasingly rely on a combined prevention strategy: vaccines to strengthen animal resistance and biosecurity systems to block virus introduction. Vaccines can help pigs withstand outbreaks, while strict farm management and disease prevention systems remain essential to keeping the virus outside production facilities.