A five-fold increase in the number of cases of African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs was recorded in Europe last year, as the total hit a nine-year high.
A total of 14 countries in Europe recorded outbreaks in domestic pigs, according to the latest annual epidemiological report published by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as 2023 became the worst year for domestic outbreaks since 2014.
Among the 10 EU countries that recorded domestic outbreaks, the vast majority of cases, 96%, were recorded in just two countries, Croatia and Romania, which recorded 1,860 cases between them. All the outbreaks in Croatia (1,124) were notified only in three regions bordering non-EU countries Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, which were also heavily infected, as the Balkans became a focal point for the virus. The outbreaks in Romania (736) were reported across the country, similar to the situation in 2022.
In the rest of the EU, outbreaks among domestic pigs were sporadic, including 30 in Poland, 16 in Italy and fewer than 10 in the remaining six affected Member States – Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Latvia and Lithuania.
Across the EU, ASF in domestic pigs was notified in 11 regions that had never been affected before, located in Croatia, Greece, Germany, Italy and Poland, indicating a wider spread to new areas. This compared with five in 2022.
Most of the outbreaks (96%) occurred on small establishments with fewer than 100 pigs, and the six outbreaks that occurred on establishments with more than 10,000 pigs were all in Romania.
In non-EU countries, ASF was detected for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which recorded 1,511 cases, and Kosovo, which recorded nine. Serbia was also badly hit, with 992 cases, while 19 were recorded in North Macedonia.
ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs were seasonal in all countries, with 88% of outbreaks reported between July and October. Most of the ASF outbreaks among domestic pigs were detected through clinical suspicion (94%), followed by tracing from affected establishments (3%), and the weekly testing of at least two dead pigs in establishments (3%)
Wild boar
The number of outbreaks in 2023 in wild boar increased by 10% compared to the previous year, as the virus was recorded in 14 member states and four non-member states. The virus was introduced for the first time in Sweden and Croatia and spread to new areas of Italy. It also re-appeared in Greece after a two-year break.
Poland was the worst affected, recording 2,866 cases in wild boar, followed by Italy (1,051), Germany (888) and Latvia (730).
Germany, Hungary and Slovakia saw the epidemiological situation improve in their countries with the number of outbreaks in wild boar decreasing.
EFSA’s experts recommend prioritizing passive surveillance , including the searching and testing of wild boar carcasses, rather than active surveillance , including the testing of hunted wild boar for the detection of ASF outbreaks.
Passive surveillance, in particular noticing clinical signs of the disease remains the main mode of detection for ASF also in domestic pig establishments. Therefore, farmers and vets have a particularly important role to play in reporting suspicious cases.
In October 2024, EFSA will deliver a scientific opinion revising the risk factors for the emergence, spread and persistence of the ASF virus in wild boar populations as well as in domestic pigs.
The figures will be a concern to the UK pig sector, as it continues to express deep concern over Defra’s decision to cut funding for checks on illegal meat imports at the Port of Dover.