How ASF Spread Across Europe: A Brief Historical Context
ASF was first described in Kenya in 1921 and remains endemic in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa. For a long time, the virus remained confined to the African continent, reducing the perception of risk outside the region. However, in 1957, ASF left Africa for the first time and was detected in Portugal.
Despite rapid response measures and depopulation, ASF re-emerged in Spain in the 1960s and was not fully eradicated until 1995. During the 1970s and 1980s, outbreaks were also recorded in Andorra, Belgium, France, Malta, the Netherlands and Italy, where the disease occurred sporadically.
A major turning point came in 2007, when ASF was first detected in Eastern Europe—in Georgia. From there, the virus gradually spread across the continent and reached Spain at the end of November 2025.
Current ASF Situation in 2025: Domestic Pigs
By the end of 2025, Europe (excluding Russia) recorded 937 ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs, which is 25% more than in 2024 (752 outbreaks). At the same time, this figure remains significantly below the historical peaks of 2018–2019 and especially 2023, when the number of outbreaks exceeded 4,500—mainly due to active spread in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Romania.
In 2025, the main epidemiological pressure was once again concentrated in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The most notable cases continued to be reported in Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the same time, several countries showed stabilization or decline. In particular, Germany recorded no outbreaks in domestic pigs in 2025, compared to 10 cases in 2024.
Wild Boar: The Main Reservoir of the Virus
The most striking trend was observed in wild boars. In 2025, the number of ASF outbreaks in wild populations increased by 44%—to 11,054 cases, compared to 7,672 in 2024. This is the second-highest figure in the entire observation series, behind only 2021 (12,150 confirmed cases).
Special attention was drawn to the appearance of ASF in Spain at the end of November. By the end of the year, 13 outbreaks had been confirmed there, all within the 6-kilometre high-risk zone around the first outbreak in the province of Barcelona.
In most European countries, the number of cases in wild boar increased, but the most notable change was recorded in Estonia. After a gradual decline from the 2016 peak (1,052 cases) to only 36 outbreaks in 2024, the country saw a renewed rise in 2025—to 259 cases.
The highest number of outbreaks among wild boar in 2025 was recorded in:
- Poland — 3,351 cases (almost +50% compared to 2024);
- Germany — 1,992 cases (+113% compared to 2024).
Latvia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania and Italy followed in terms of the number of reported cases.
Experts emphasize that wild populations remain the key factor sustaining ASF circulation in Europe. Therefore, population control measures, strict biosecurity, and effective wild boar monitoring remain critical to containing ASF in the coming years.
PigUA.info, based on materials from 3tres3.com