Indonesian pig farmers advised to strengthen biosecurity due to ASF re-outbreaks

Therefore, Dr Wibawa said, the Ministry of Agriculture has called for strengthened coordination and faster field responses.

Preparedness and vigilance against ASF

ASF poses a serious threat to pig populations with mortality rate of up to 100%. Although the virus is not infectious to human, its economic impact to the pig industry is huge. Early detection, rapid reporting, and cooperation among all stakeholders are essential.

The Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health issued Circular Letter number 8492 dated August 19, 2025, regarding preparedness and vigilance against ASF in the Asia Pacific, following reports of rising cases in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

The circular calls on provincial and city/district livestock offices, veterinary authorities, and professional organizations to prepare risk mitigation plans, profile farmers and traders, and map livestock distribution routes for early detection.

Measures include stricter pig health monitoring, reporting symptoms to iSIKHNAS, risk-based surveillance, and prompt investigation and sample collection for lab testing if cases arise.

Farm-level biosecurity must include regular disinfection, restricted movement, and hygiene protocols. Transport of pigs and products from infected areas is banned, and all transported pigs must have valid health certificates.

Biosecurity as a prevention measure

Since ASF virus spreads through direct contacts with infected pigs, contaminated equipment, and feed exposed with the virus, prevention is the first and most important guard, stressed Dr Wibawa.

“Biosecurity is a prevention measure to prevent the entrance of diseases to the farm and its spread in the farm. Bio-exclusion is preventing the disease agents to enter, while bio-containment is preventing their spread,” he explained.

Biosecurity measures should include:

• ✅ Cleaning of house and equipment.
• ✅ Limiting access to people.
• ✅ Isolation of new pigs and pigs with clinical symptoms.
• ✅ Disinfection of transportation vehicles and equipment.
• ✅ No swill feeding.
• ✅ Routine animal health monitoring.
• ✅ Proper handling of dead pigs.

Discipline and consistency

Sharing how they maintain biosecurity at their pig farm, Yude Maulana Yusuf, who heads the livestock research agency in Siborongborong, North Sumatera, said biosecurity implementation needs discipline and consistency.

“We adopt the all-in-all-out system in our pig farm. We also limit access of people and vehicles into the farm. Operators and people allowed to enter the farm must take shower and change their clothes,” he revealed.

Dr Yude believes that if all biosecurity measures are implemented and performed in a discipline manner, the spread of ASF can be controlled.