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"Over the past decade, African swine fever has had a dramatic impact on the European swine industry and continues to disrupt local and regional economies. While the latest data indicate that efforts to stop the spread of the virus are bearing fruit, the situation across Europe is not satisfactory and we must remain vigilant. Farmers, hunters and veterinarians have a particularly important role to play in reporting suspected cases," said Bernhard Url, EFSA Executive Director.
The #StopASF campaign encourages farmers, veterinarians and hunters to "detect, prevent, report" ASF cases in pigs and wild boar. The campaign is being carried out in cooperation with local governments in eighteen countries, and in Poland by the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate.
The position of the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate: "African swine fever is a viral infectious disease affecting pigs and wild boars and can have a serious impact on the population of these animal groups and the profitability of pig farming, causing difficulties in their movement and in the trade of meat and pork products in the European Union, as well as in exports to third countries. Given the lack of treatment options and the use of vaccines against the disease, the most important thing is to prevent its occurrence and spread.[...] One of the basic elements of prevention of transmission to farms of many diseases, including ASF, is compliance with the principles of biosecurity. This includes reducing the possibility of transmission of the virus from the environment to pig farms, as well as in the environment itself (the role of biosecurity of hunters, forest service workers, but also workers in other industries, such as the tourism sector, as well as travelers themselves). Therefore, it is extremely important to continuously raise public awareness through training and information campaigns."
In 2022, the number of ASF outbreaks in pigs and wild boar dropped significantly in countries such as Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria compared to the previous year, according to a new report published by EFSA. However, ASF is emerging in new places, including Greece, the Czech Republic, and neighboring EU countries such as Serbia and Moldova. ASF was first reported in North Macedonia in 2022.
The EFSA ASF campaign website has information and handouts available.
September 20, 2023/ EFSA/ Poland.
