Updates on outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) have recently become relatively rare from Asia, but this week Laos and South Korea have reported new infections. In both countries, events do not give rise to optimism.

South Korea reported 5 new outbreaks to the World Animal Health Organization - again, they are all very close to the border with North Korea.

In total, Koreans rejected 7,519 animals in these 5 places - in three of them there were more than 2 thousand pigs in the territory, and the largest business entity contained 2800 pigs.

What causes concern is that the virus was also detected in a dead boar - about 2 km away. from the border with North Korea, in the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

This extended border is strongly reinforced with barbed wire. The animal was found 32 km. northeast of the nearest known farm infected with ASF. It is hoped that this disease will not become endemic among the country's wild boars.

The total number of recorded outbreaks in South Korea is currently 14, which has led to the destruction of 23 thousand pigs in total to date. All of them were discovered in an area 90 km wide.

It is amazing that all these places are within 20 km. from the border with North Korea, which makes us think that in the usually very closed North Korea there should be quite a few problems associated with ASF. This country officially reported only one thing - a minor outbreak near the border with China on May 23.