African swine fever vaccine candidate shows success

Pork producers are finally getting some good news when it comes to African swine fever (ASF).

USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) says one of its ASF vaccine candidates has been shown to prevent and effectively protect both European and Asian bred swine against the current circulating Asian strain of the virus.

ARS research shows the vaccine candidate has ability to be commercially produced while still maintaining its vaccine efficacy against Asian ASF strains when tested in both European and Asian breeds of swine. The findings also show that a commercial partner can replicate experimental level results and prevent the spread of the virus.

Researchers say the onset of immunity was revealed in approximately one-third of the swine by second week post-vaccination, with full protection in all swine achieved by the fourth week.

“We appreciate the work that is being done to develop and approve a vaccine against ASF,” said Michigan Farm Bureau Livestock and Dairy Specialist Ernie Birchmeier. “Researchers and government agencies have proven that we can fast track development and approval of new vaccines this past year relative to COVID, and Farm Bureau policy has long called for similar measures in the development of animal health protection tools.”

There currently is no approved vaccine or treatment for ASF, and the mortality rate of the virus is near 100% for the pigs that become infected.

Today’s ARS announcement comes on the heels of months of concerning news for U.S. pork producers as ASF crept closer to American shores, with outbreaks in the Dominican Republicand most recently in neighboring Haiti.   

While the virus has previously decimated swine populations in China and Eastern Europe, there have not been any outbreaks in the U.S. to date.

“The recent discovery of ASF in Haiti only increases the importance of new protective measures for our America’s pork producers,” Birchmeier said. "If we can finish the work on the vaccine and get it approved, that could be a breakthrough measure in protecting the world’s swine population against this deadly and devastating disease.”