ASF situation worsens in Vietnam

African swine fever ( ASF )   outbreaks are on the rise in Vietnam , with the number of animals culled more than tripling in just two weeks. The Tien Phong newspaper reported 972 outbreaks in the country since the start of the year, up from 514 cases in mid-July, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The number of pigs infected or culled has also increased from 30,000 to more than 100,000 in the same period. “ASF has become very widespread, spreading across the country and causing serious damage to the livestock industry, especially the pig sector,” said Nguyen Xuan Duong, chairman of the Vietnam Livestock Association. Although Vietnam was the first country to develop an ASF vaccine, vaccination rates remain low.