Number of EU Member States affected
Last year the outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs decreased by 83% compared to 2023 (from 1929 to 333), according to the latest annual epidemiological report from EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). The decline is mainly due to fewer outbreaks in Romania and Croatia and represents the lowest annual total number of outbreaks in the EU since 2017. The report also highlights that the number of EU Member States affected by ASF decreased for the first time since 2014, from 14 to 13, with Sweden now free of the disease and no new countries reporting infections.
Outbreaks and farms
Looking more broadly, most Member States have experienced sporadic outbreaks of ASF, while Romania has had 66% of the total number of outbreaks in the EU. Most of them (78%) occurred in farms with fewer than 100 pigs. The number of outbreaks in wild boars has remained stable since 2022. The EFSA report also indicates that 30% of all outbreaks in wild boars were reported by Poland.
Monitoring measures
In 2024, the Member States concerned analysed an increasing number of samples from domestic pigs resulting from passive surveillance activities. This type of surveillance involves investigating suspected cases of the disease and has identified around 80% of ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs and 70% of outbreaks in wild boars in the EU. EFSA scientists recommend that the Member States concerned continue to target monitoring measures towards passive surveillance. They also recommend continuing to carry out systematic sampling of dead pigs (reinforced passive surveillance) in areas and periods considered at risk to ensure early detection of the disease.
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