While not currently in Canada, African Swine Fever remains a threat producers here should be knowledgeable about.
“The risk to Canada has not decreased, and if anything, it remains elevated, but Canada’s level of preparedness has improved. So, while ASF has not become less of a global risk, Canada is better prepared now than in previous years to prevent and respond to it,” said Afolakemi Adeniji the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) Project Lead. CAHSS is a division within Animal Health Canada, and I coordinate the activities of CanSpotASF under Animal Health Canada.
With that in mind Adeniji said producers need to remember prevention is critical with ASF.
“The most important point is that currently ASF cannot be treated, only prevented; therefore, bio-security remains the strongest defence,” he told Prairie Hog Country.
“As an internationally trained veterinarian, my guiding principle regarding foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreaks in Canada has always been simple: prevention is far better than control. It saves time and resources and ultimately helps protect both the industry and animal populations.”
So producers need to remain vigilante to ASF.
“The bottom line is that strong, consistent bio-security and early reporting remain the most effective ways to keep not only ASF out of Canada, but also other foreign animal diseases, while safeguarding producers and the broader swine industry.”
In terms of monitoring for ASF that is the mandate of the CanSpotASF program.
CanSpotASF is Canada’s national surveillance program for the early detection of African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs. Its main purpose is to enhance early detection and provide additional evidence that Canada remains free of ASF, supporting confidence in international trade. It is a collaborative initiative involving federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) governments, academia, and the swine industry.
The program began in January 2020.
“The initiative was established to strengthen and enhance ASF surveillance in Canada, improving the country’s ability to detect the disease early and respond quickly if it were ever introduced,” said Adeniji. “Early detection provides the best opportunity to limit the scale and economic impact of an outbreak should one occur.”
Adeniji added “the mandate has not changed.
“CanSpotASF continues to serve as a strategic extension of CFIA’s regulatory passive surveillance, enhancing the sensitivity and responsiveness of Canada’s ASF surveillance system and supporting early detection, rapid response, and maintenance of Canada’s ASF-free status.”
While vigilance domestically is critical it is also important to be aware of the international situation as it regards to ASF.
“ASF remains a global animal health challenge affecting pig production, with occurrence now reported across multiple regions beyond its original range in Africa (Food and Agriculture Organization; World Organisation for Animal Health),” explained Adeniji.
Between January 2022 and February 2026, ASF has been reported in 74 countries across five regions: Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas (WOAH, March 2026).
“In the Asia-Pacific region, outbreaks continue to be reported, and the disease may re-emerge over time, influencing pig production and local markets,” said Adeniji.
“In Africa, ASF remains present in many regions, circulating among domestic pigs and wildlife.”
In the Americas, it is currently limited to parts of the Caribbean, while other countries continue to focus on prevention and preparedness (FAO, 2026).
Recent WOAH updates confirm that new cases continue to be reported in Europe.
Adeniji also provided that in March 2026, Ukraine reported a recurrence of the disease. In late 2025, Spain detected ASF again after a long period without reported cases, with confirmations in wild boar. Germany continues to report detections across multiple regions in wild boar populations, while Italy reports ongoing circulation in wild boar and occasional cases in domestic pigs in affected areas. Similar activity is also reported in other European countries, including Poland, Romania, Serbia, Moldova, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, and the Baltic states, reflecting continued regional ASF presence and ongoing surveillance and control activities (WOAH, 2026).
“Overall, ASF remains widely distributed and persistent across multiple regions, with ongoing activity in several parts of the world and continued emphasis on prevention, surveillance, and control,” said Adeniji.
All that said treatment and prevention options remain limited in terms of ASF.
“There is currently no treatment or vaccine for ASF approved for use in Canada,” said Adeniji.
“However, research and international standards continue to advance in vaccine development through organizations like the World Organisation for Animal Health and Food and Agriculture Organization. In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is supporting preparedness by expanding research capacity at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization–International Vaccine Centre.”
For now, ASF management relies primarily on early detection and prevention, including bio-security, and controls on animal and product movement, said Adeniji.
For more information on CanSpotASF, please visit the CanSpotASF page on Animal Health Canada website: https://animalhealthcanada.ca/canspotasf •
— By Calvin Daniels