How close is an ASF vaccine? Experts from Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines compare notes

As African swine fever continues to emerge in new forms, experts from South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines gathered to discuss vaccine development and field application strategies. South Korea also unveiled progress on a live attenuated vaccine incorporating DIVA technology, which allows veterinarians to distinguish vaccinated animals from those actually infected with the virus.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency held an international symposium Tuesday at its headquarters in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, under the theme "From Research to Field Application: Developing Safe and Effective African Swine Fever Vaccines." The agency announced the event Wednesday.

ASF is a livestock disease with a fatality rate approaching 100 percent and strong transmission potential, causing severe damage to the swine industry. Earlier this year, 24 outbreaks were confirmed across seven cities and provinces nationwide.

According to the agency, a new transmission route has been identified on top of the existing spread through wild boars: virus contamination in feed ingredients derived from porcine plasma protein. The agency established the link between the contaminated feed ingredients and ASF through epidemiological investigation and detailed analysis.

The symposium drew more than 120 participants, including academics, officials from related agencies and representatives of animal pharmaceutical companies.

The first session covered ASF outbreak trends and vaccine research across Asia. Experts from Vietnam and the Philippines — countries that have either introduced vaccines or are preparing to do so — shared updates on their domestic outbreak situations and key considerations in vaccine application.

Chinese researchers presented findings on rASFV I/II, a highly pathogenic recombinant strain that emerged from a combination of ASF virus genotypes I and II. The variant has been spreading beyond China and Vietnam into Russia's Far East. A Chinese expert outlined how the disease landscape has shifted since the variant's emergence and described ongoing vaccine research aimed at countering it.

The second session reviewed the state of domestic vaccine development in South Korea. Researchers presented progress on both a vaccine being commercialized by a private laboratory and the DIVA-based live attenuated vaccine under development by the quarantine agency. DIVA is a diagnostic technology that differentiates vaccinated pigs from those infected with the actual ASF virus.

"We hope this symposium will serve as a milestone — not merely for academic exchange, but for building a powerful partnership that ensures the sustainability of our society and a disease-free future," said Choe Jeong-rok, head of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency.