Global Guidelines Released for African Swine Fever Vaccine Monitoring

Scientists from The Pirbright Institute and City University of Hong Kong have helped develop the first international guidelines for monitoring and evaluating African swine fever vaccines in the field.

The guidelines were produced for members of the World Organisation for Animal Health to improve disease control and address gaps in vaccine monitoring for African swine fever, also known as ASF.

ASF is a serious disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. Originally found in sub-Saharan Africa, the disease has spread over the past decade to parts of Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, raising concerns over food security and livestock production.

Researchers said there is growing demand for reliable data on vaccine safety and effectiveness under farm conditions. Commercial live attenuated ASF vaccines have recently received approval in some Southeast Asian countries and are now being included in disease control programmes.

However, scientists said field evaluation and post-vaccination monitoring remain limited, while vaccine approval systems differ across countries and regions.

According to the new guidelines, veterinary authorities and regulators can use a common framework to collect real-world data on vaccine performance and safety. The document is designed for use in domestic pigs and can be adapted to local disease and farming conditions.

Georgina Limon-Vega of The Pirbright Institute said the framework supports vaccination strategies alongside other ASF prevention and control measures.

The guidelines were developed with contributions from international organisations, researchers, industry representatives, and government officials working under a World Organisation for Animal Health expert group.