Scientists warn that a single global vaccine for African Swine Fever (ASF) is unlikely, following trials where a promising candidate, ASFV-G-ΔI177L, provided strong protection against some strains but failed against others. This poses a significant concern for smallholder farmers in East Africa, where pig farming is crucial for livelihoods.

• The vaccine candidate provided no protection against ASF strains from Malawi, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.
• The study was conducted by the US Department of Agriculture’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi.
• ILRI Senior Scientist Anna Lacasta stated, "We need targeted vaccines aligned with the regional virus biotypes to maximize protection and control outbreaks."