African swine fever

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It poses no direct threat to human health but can devastate pig populations and related economies. ASF is newsworthy due to recent outbreaks and their impact on global pork markets. In Spain, authorities are working to contain an outbreak near Barcelona, fearing significant damage to the country's pork export industry. Simultaneously, China is experiencing a pork supply glut, driving prices to an eight-year low. This glut is partly attributed to the expansion of large-scale pig farms, which were initially intended to recover from previous ASF outbreaks. The current situation highlights the complex challenges of managing ASF, balancing disease control with economic stability and consumer demand in major pork-producing regions.