Deadly African swine fever continues to inflict losses on the domestic pig and wild boar populations of central and eastern Europe
Officials of European animal health agencies continue to report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) new outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF).
Over the past week, just two European states have reported new ASF cases in domestic pigs to the OIE.
Romania’s national veterinary agency recorded 24 outbreaks that had started since October 16. These led to the loss of 342 pigs through mortality or culling. One infected location was described as a farm but it had just six pigs. All other affected premises held small backyard pig herds.
A second ASF outbreak has been confirmed in the northern Ukrainian oblast of Zhytomir. According to the animal health agency’s latest report to the OIE, the virus was detected in the only pig at a smallholding. The animal has been culled. A wild boar found dead in the same oblast in early November also tested positive for the ASF virus.
More ASF outbreaks in European wild boar
Based on reports submitted to the OIE, Romania and Hungary are the states whose wild boar have been most affected by ASF over recent weeks. In the past week, these countries reported the loss of 51 and 37 wild animals, respectively.
ASF has been detected in 18 wild boar across Bulgaria, and a further 12 in Latvia. In Russia’s Central federal district, 10 wild boar were affected at one location in Oryol oblast recently. One wild boar in Moldova tested positive for the ASF virus this week.
South Africa reports new farm outbreak
ASF has been confirmed at a farm in the Lekwa district of the South African state of Mpumalanga. This brings the country’s outbreaks to 18 since April, and direct pig mortality to more than 3,440.
According to the report from the Department of Agriculture to the OIE, the outbreak began at the start of November, when 25 of the 150 pigs at the farm died. The fate of the rest of the herd is not recorded.
View our continuing coverage of the African swine fever outbreak.
