The African Swine Fever has spread across six districts of Xayabouly Province since the beginning of the outbreak in June, provincial authorities reported.
The disease has killed or forced the culling of more than 5,400 pigs and causing an estimated LAK 14.9 billion (about USD 665,000) in economic losses,
As of 13 August, the outbreak had affected at least 38 villages and hundreds of farming families. Xayabouly district has suffered the heaviest losses, followed by Thongmixay, Ngeun, Hongsa, Khob, and Phiang districts.
The disease first emerged in Xayabouly district in June before spreading to six of the province’s 11 districts.
African Swine Fever is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs and often carries a mortality rate close to 100 percent, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. The virus, while devastating pig populations and farming economies. does not infect humans. Yet, people can spread it to pigs through contaminated clothing, equipment, food or other materials.
Authorities say illegal smuggling and unregulated movement of pork products continue to drive the outbreak’s spread. Some farmers have also secretly sold meat from dead pigs at cheap prices to avoid financial losses, a practice officials say undermines containment efforts and risks spreading the disease further.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued an urgent notice on 10 September ordering continued monitoring of pig and pork movement between provinces and districts, and a strict ban on importing pig products from abroad for the duration of the outbreak.
Provincial and district administrations have banned the purchase, sale, and movement of pigs across Xayabouly Province and set up 19 roadside checkpoints at international border crossings, inter-district routes, and provincial boundaries to enforce the ban. Response teams have buried and disinfected infected livestock and distributed disinfectant, dewormer, insecticide, and deltamethrin to farms across the province.
Agricultural Crisis
The outbreak has struck alongside a separate agricultural crisis.
Pest infestations, including armyworms, blast disease, and gall midges, have damaged wet-season rice fields across eight districts and dozens of villages across Xayabouly.
Local containment efforts have recovered most of the affected farmland, though officials say the combined toll on livestock and crops has placed significant strain on rural livelihoods.
Authorities have not said when they expect to bring the outbreak under control, but continue to monitor affected areas and encourage farmers to report suspected cases early.
