The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reported this week that African Swine Fever has been detected in 50 countries.
Much of the attention has been on China where the disease and culling took out between 40 and 50 per cent of the national herd; China is the world’s leading pork producer.
But the disease has had devastating impacts on other countries, such as Viet Nam and Bulgaria.
African Swine Fever has officially reduced Viet Nam’s hog population by 22 per cent, but there are unofficial estimates of 30 to 40 per cent.
About 2.4 million people keep some pigs; there are about 10,000 commercial-scale hog farms. About 70 per cent of the nation's meat production is pork.
In Bulgaria, 21 per cent of the country’s swine inventory has been culled — more than 140,000 animals.
ASF is threatening to wipe out the local East Balkan breed) of black pigs; they are traditionally raised free-range, similar to the Black Iberian breed of hogs that produce the prized Iberico ham. About 420 Black East Balkan pigs, out of a total population of about 2,000, were infected by African Swine Fever.
Bulgarian law limits smallholders to five pigs, but some backyard operations have been found with as many as 200 unregistered pigs.
There are about 60 commercial-scale farms that account for 93 per cent of Bulgaria’s pork.
