KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The last five years have seen animal diseases such as avian influenza and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) wreak havoc on the meat and poultry industry. In 2018, African Swine Fever became a major animal health concern around the globe.

On Dec. 19, China confirmed the first-ever African Swine Fever outbreak in Guangdong province. To date, China has reported at least 90 outbreaks of the disease across 22 provinces.

ASF is a hemorrhagic disease of pigs, warthogs, European wild boar and American feral pigs. Death can occur within two to 10 days on average. Biting flies and ticks, direct contact with other swine, and garbage containing unprocessed infected pig meat are vectors for spread of the disease. And, it can survive in feed ingredients.

Here’s MEAT+POULTRY’s coverage of the problems and possibilities spurred by this global animal disease crisis.

African Swine Fever tracking toward Germany
Spread by wild boar, the virus is deadly to pigs and a serious threat to pork exports.

WH Group temporarily shutters pork plant after African Swine Flu outbreak
Municipal government ordered the plant to close for six weeks in light of a second outbreak of ASF.

FAO warns on spread of African Swine Fever in China
The deadly virus could spread to other Asian countries anytime.

African Swine Fever detected in Belgium
Meanwhile China races to contain the disease, and Romania asks for financial aid.

Concern over African Swine Fever spikes
Stakeholders aren’t sweating yet, but contingency plans are needed as the disease spreads westward.

African Swine Fever could transform global protein, grain flows
Analysts gave their views on the potential impacts of ASF spread in Europe and China.

Clarification: USDA to grant exclusive license to develop ASF vaccine
The news comes as the deadly swine disease continues to spread in China and western Europe.

African swine fever, trade war pain points for China
A new CoBank report paints a picture of a volatile global pork market.