This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
As a veterinarian, I have been following the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in China and South East Asia with great concern. The disease has already spread to several countries in the region, including Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, only four countries in South East Asia - Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand - remain free from the disease. The others, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Lao People's Democratic Republic, are struggling to contain the outbreak.
China, the largest producer and consumer of pork globally, has been particularly hard hit. The country has destroyed over 1.2 million pigs due to the outbreak, and many farmers have depopulated their farms to minimize the risks. Vietnam, on the other hand, has slaughtered over six million pigs due to the infection.
The ASF outbreak has led to a significant reduction in pork supply, resulting in increased prices. China, which is estimated to have a pig population of around 500 million, is struggling to bridge its deficit with regional supplies. This is where Kenya comes in - with a pig population of around 350,000, we could potentially supply pork to the Chinese market.
However, the ASF outbreak also poses a significant risk to Kenya. If the disease spreads to our country, it could have devastating consequences for our pig farmers and the wider economy. To mitigate this risk, it is essential that we take proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
As I noted in my previous article on ASF, published on August 3, 2018, the disease has the potential to spread rapidly if not contained. The Chinese ASF outbreak echoes the global influenza outbreak of 1918-1919, which spread widely and killed over 50 million people worldwide.
Fortunately, Kenya has a relatively small pig population and a low consumption of pork, which could limit the spread of the disease. However, it is essential that we remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of ASF.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, effective control of ASF requires strong disease control support from the highest level in government and a good state of preparedness in a country, including disaster planning and well-laid-out standard operating procedures.
