Clinical trials are underway in China on an African Swine Fever vaccine both in labs and in the field. So far, Chinese researchers say they’ve developed a safe vaccine that’s proven effective against ASF. SDSU Extension Veterinarian Dr. Russ Daly says that’s positive they’re getting those preliminary results and that could prove to be beneficial for U.S pork producers should the disease ever show up on our shores.

He says while lab testing for a vaccine can be helpful, it’s more critical to get results when you take it out to the field.

Researchers are testing their vaccine on 3,000 pigs in three different locations in China. Daly says there are various research projects being conducted in the United States on ASF including one at SDSU at the diagnostic lab.

ASF kills virtually every pig it infects and has devastated China’s hog herds since it first showed up in 2018.