Ecological Society of America announces 2026 Fellows
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Apr-2026 08:16 ET (21-Apr-2026 12:16 GMT/UTC)
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.
A new study in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics assessed life trajectories of children in Lesotho, Africa, across a wide range of educational and later-life outcomes. The study found that children who enrolled in primary school at an older age—despite an initial disadvantage in years of schooling—were more likely to remain in school through adolescence, obtained higher total years of schooling, and developed greater literacy than children who began primary school at younger ages. The older children were also more likely to delay marriage, have fewer children, hold higher-earning jobs, and accumulate greater wealth.