New ASF cases were reported in Estonia, Croatia, and Ukraine, while 13 other countries confirmed the continuation of existing outbreaks.
A total of 51 new outbreaks in domestic pigs and 735 cases in wild boar were confirmed across Europe last month, leading to the loss of over 3,900 domestic pigs. Particularly concerning is Ukraine, where ASF reappeared in Kherson and Ternopil regions. One outbreak occurred over 100 km away from previously infected areas, demonstrating the virus’s potential for sudden geographic jumps. WOAH emphasized that this serves as a stark reminder of the need for strict biosecurity measures.
Risks to Commercial Pig Farming
Most outbreaks in February occurred in high-density pig farming regions, raising concerns for commercial producers. Since January 2022, Europe has recorded over 540,000 ASF cases in domestic pigs and nearly 31,000 in wild boar, leading to the loss of more than 1.3 million animals.
Ukraine’s recent developments highlight a worrying trend of the virus spreading into new territories, posing a serious economic risk to the country’s pig industry.
Global ASF Situation
In February, no new ASF outbreaks were reported in Africa, the Americas, Asia, or Oceania, but the overall global picture remains alarming. Since early 2022, ASF has been detected in 64 countries across five world regions, resulting in nearly 2 million pig losses.
Despite the ongoing threat, no country has officially adopted ASF vaccination as a response to outbreaks. Some nations are conducting trials with modified live vaccines, but WOAH warns that any vaccine must meet strict safety and efficacy standards.
WOAH’s Recommendations
WOAH urges all countries to:
- Maintain high biosecurity standards on farms,
- Report outbreaks promptly,
- Conduct awareness campaigns for farmers and hunters,
- Control animal movement to prevent disease spread.
The organization also highlights the importance of data transparency, particularly regarding vaccine trials, to support global efforts in controlling ASF.
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