According to the latest annual epidemiological report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 585 ASF outbreaks were reported in domestic pigs across EU member states in 2025, representing a 76% increase compared to 2024.
Romania accounted for 81% of all reported outbreaks in domestic pig farms within the EU. Further increases were also recorded in Croatia, Estonia, and Latvia.
Despite the significant year-on-year increase, the total number of outbreaks remained below the levels observed in most years between 2018 and 2023. At the same time, 91% of outbreaks occurred in small farms with fewer than 100 pigs.
The situation among wild boar also deteriorated. In 2025, the EU recorded 11,036 ASF cases in wild boar populations, up 44% from 7,677 cases in 2024 and the highest number reported since 2021.
Nearly one-third of all wild boar cases were detected in Poland. Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia reported a pronounced seasonal peak during the winter months.
One of the most significant developments of the year was the re-emergence of ASF in Spain. Catalonia reported the first ASF detections in wild boar since 1995. As a result, the number of EU member states affected by ASF increased to 14.
Genetic analysis revealed that the newly detected virus isolate was not closely related to any of the ASF strains currently circulating in Europe. The source of introduction has not yet been identified.
The European Union conducted record levels of ASF surveillance in 2025. More than 518,000 samples from domestic pigs and over 618,000 samples from wild boar were analysed.
Passive surveillance—testing dead or suspected animals—accounted for the detection of 84% of outbreaks in domestic pigs and 73% of cases in wild boar. EFSA continues to recommend this approach as the primary tool for early disease detection.
At the same time, some countries achieved notable success in disease control. Effective regional ASF eradication and control programmes were implemented in Czechia and southern Italy throughout 2025.
Against the backdrop of rising ASF outbreaks across Europe, biosecurity and preparedness to respond to suspected cases remain among the highest priorities for pig producers.
It is worth noting that the online course “ASF — Everything Business Needs to Know” is available on the AgriAcademy platform. Developed with the participation of leading industry experts, the course covers disease diagnosis, risk assessment, response procedures in the event of suspected ASF, biosecurity requirements, and modern prevention strategies. Participants who successfully complete the programme receive a certificate.
The course is available at:
https://courses.agriacademy.org/courses/course-v1:FAO+ASF+2024Q4/about
PigUA.info, based on materials from The Pig Site