Global vaccine standard adopted to curb deadly African swine fever

GLOBAL – A major step in the fight against African swine fever (ASF) was taken this year as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) adopted a new international vaccine standard during its 92nd General Session in Paris.

The decision comes in response to the continued devastation caused by ASF, one of the world’s most destructive swine diseases. The highly contagious, haemorrhagic virus affects domestic pigs and wild boars and can kill nearly 100% of infected animals. 

Since January 2022, more than 2 million pigs have been lost globally, with outbreaks reported in at least 23 countries, primarily in Asia and Europe.

“This new standard marks a critical step forward in securing animal health,” said Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General of WOAH, in a statement on LinkedIn. 

“I am convinced that progress is within our grasp. With sustained research and innovation, the development and use of high-quality, effective vaccines, alongside proven disease control strategies, can greatly reduce the toll ASF takes on communities and ecosystems.”

ASF poses a serious threat not just to animal health but also to food security, livelihoods, and local economies. 

In many regions, pigs raised on small family farms are a primary source of income. Unchecked, ASF outbreaks could also strain global protein supplies, pork accounts for 31% of the world’s total protein intake.

Until recently, the absence of an effective vaccine severely limited global control efforts. However, with recent breakthroughs and limited vaccine approvals in a few countries, WOAH saw the need to establish a clear benchmark to guide safe vaccine development and use.

The new standard outlines minimum requirements for vaccine safety, efficacy, and quality.

It emphasises that vaccines must be able to reduce disease severity, prevent transmission, and provide effective immunity without causing harmful side effects or environmental damage. 

Importantly, vaccines must also match the specific ASF strain circulating in the region to prevent genetic recombination that could create new, more dangerous variants.

However, WOAH stresses that vaccines are not a silver bullet. “The World Organisation for Animal Health encourages innovation in vaccine development; however, it remains imperative that the vaccines used in the field are of high quality and have been manufactured in line with WOAH standards, proven safe and effective,” said the agency. 

Poor-quality vaccines, it warns, could undermine control efforts by failing to protect animals or allowing the virus to mutate.

Experts suggest that vaccination should complement, rather than replace, other ASF control measures, including biosecurity practices, import restrictions, and animal movement controls.

Local veterinary authorities must assess the feasibility of vaccination based on disease prevalence and available resources.

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