More cases of African swine fever reported across Europe
Over the past week, two European countries have confirmed African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs — Poland and Romania. Over the same period, a further 497 wild boar have tested positive for the ASF virus in central and eastern Europe.
Poland has reported the country’s second ASF outbreak of 2020 at a farm. In the village of Wieckowice, the farmer had unknowingly recently brought in pigs from the country’s first outbreak location.
Around 10,000 pigs in total have been affected by the second outbreak, according to Poland’s official veterinary inspectorate. Infection was confirmed on April 5, after initial tests had been negative for the virus. The farm — located in Poznan county in the province of Greater Poland (Wielkopolskie) — was under intensive surveillance because of its recent purchases of pigs.
Last month, Poland’s first ASF outbreak of the year was confirmed among the domestic pig population. Located in the village of Niedoradz in Nowa Sol county, this outbreak was significant in that it was the country’s first known outbreak in Lubusz. This western province shares a border with Germany, as well as with Greater Poland.
Under ASF control measures, the movement of pigs out of a restricted zone is permitted within Poland as long as certain conditions are met.
The veterinary inspectorate has recently clarified the rules. Among the requirements is a test revealing the animals are free of the ASF virus no more than seven days before transportation. Inspection by a veterinarian is also required on the day before transport to ensure the pigs appear in good health.
ASF detected in more Romanian backyard herds
Five new outbreaks of ASF have occurred among small non-commercial pig herds in Romania, according to the national veterinary agency’s latest reports to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Involving a total of 20 animals, eight pigs died, and the rest have been destroyed.
225 outbreaks in European pigs this year
Since the start of 2020, there have been 225 confirmed outbreaks of ASF among domestic pigs in Europe, according to the April 8 update from the European Commission (EC). Over the past seven days, this total has risen by nine.
From this source, worst affected has been Romania — with 200 outbreaks, which is six more than the previous week’s total. Bulgaria’s total remains at 16. There have been two new outbreaks in Ukraine (bringing its total this year to five), and one in Poland (now two outbreaks in 2020). Other European countries that have reported ASF cases in domestic pigs this year are Greece and Moldova, each with one outbreak.
ASF outbreaks in wild boar increase by almost 500
For a second successive week, the number of wild boar infected with ASF in Europe has increased by around 500.
Up to April 8, the EC had recorded 4,339 confirmed ASF outbreaks among Europe’s wild boar population so far this year. This represents an increase of 497 from the previous week’s total.
At 1,874 and 1,536, respectively, Poland and Hungary have reported the highest number of cases over this period. These represent increases of 159 and 304, respectively, from the previous week.
Other countries reporting significant numbers of ASF-infected wild boar to the EC are Romania (394), Bulgaria (207), Latvia (91), Lithuania (70) and Slovakia (52). Italy, Serbia, Estonia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belgium have also confirmed ASF in wild boar this year, but in no more than 40 animals.
Over the past week, the country reporting the highest number of ASF cases in wild boar to the OIE was Hungary with 220 new cases. Of this total, 156 were found as a cluster in Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, which borders Slovakia.
Other European countries reporting new cases in wild boar to the OIE over the past week were Poland (123 animals), Romania (23), Latvia (10), Moldova (5) and Ukraine (3).
ASF ‘resolved’ in Ukrainian province
In the past 7 days, Ukraine’s animal health agency has informed the OIE that the ASF situation in Volyn oblast has been “resolved.”
In this northwestern region, just one wild boar tested positive for the virus in mid-February. There have been no other cases in Volyn since that time, according to the agency.
View our continuing coverage of the global African swine fever situation.
