African swine fever (ASF) has emerged as a major threat to Nepal’s pig farming sector since its first outbreak in March 2022. The disease has caused significant declines in both the pig population and pork production, severely affecting rural communities reliant on pig farming for their livelihoods. ASF’s spread is facilitated by key risk factors, including swill feeding, informal cross-border trade, and poor on-farm biosecurity measures. Additionally, seasonal trends, particularly during the monsoon, exacerbate the spread of the disease, especially in areas with high pig density. Control efforts face numerous challenges, including limited veterinary infrastructure, inadequate surveillance systems, gaps in legislation, and a lack of awareness among farmers about biosecurity practices. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of ASF’s epidemiology in Nepal, exploring the disease’s socio-economic impact and identifying key control challenges. The paper provides targeted recommendations to improve veterinary services, strengthen surveillance systems, enforce biosecurity measures, and enhance cross-border cooperation. It also emphasizes the importance of fostering community engagement and developing effective policy frameworks to ensure long-term ASF prevention and control, ensuring a more resilient pig farming sector in Nepal.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a transboundary and zoonotic viral disease affecting poultry and wild birds in many countries worldwide. Globally, HPAI outbreaks have led to the death or culling of hundreds of millions of birds over the past two decades and have caused nearly 1000 confirmed human H5N1 infections, with a case fatality rate of approximately 50%. Asia and Europe remain among the most affected regions, with recurrent outbreaks linked to intensive poultry production, live bird markets, and migratory bird pathways. In Nepal, HPAI has been reported since 2009, with more than 320 outbreaks recorded and over 2.7 million birds lost, alongside one confirmed human fatality. Control measures rely largely on stamping out, movement restrictions, and surveillance; however, gaps in farm-level biosecurity, informal cross-border poultry trade, and limited vaccination use continue to sustain vulnerability. Strengthened multisectoral coordination under a One Health framework, integrating veterinary and public health surveillance, molecular monitoring, community awareness, and risk-based biosecurity enforcement, is essential to reduce the impact of HPAI and mitigate future zoonotic and pandemic risks.