May 21, 2025

EFSA: ASF outbreaks in the EU are falling

African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in the European Union (EU) declined by 83% in 2024 compared to the previous year (from 1,929 to 333), according to the latest annual epidemiological report of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The drop was mainly due to fewer outbreaks in Romania and Croatia, marking the lowest annual total number of ASF cases in the EU since 2017.

The report also reveals that the number of EU Member States affected by ASF declined for the first time since 2014, from 14 to 13, with Sweden becoming free from the disease and no new country reporting infections. 

Looking at the broader picture, most Member States were affected by sporadic outbreaks of ASF, while Romania accounted for 66% of the total EU number of outbreaks. Most of the outbreaks (78%) occurred in establishments with fewer than 100 pigs.

The number of outbreaks in wild boar has remained stable since 2022. EFSA's annual report indicates that 30% of all outbreaks in wild boar were reported by Poland.

In 2024, affected Member States analysed an increasing number of domestic pig samples from passive surveillance activities. This type of surveillance consists of investigating suspected cases of the disease, resulting in the detection of around 80% of ASF outbreaks among domestic pigs and 70% of wild boar outbreaks in the EU.

EFSA's scientists recommend the affected Member States to continue focusing their monitoring efforts on passive surveillance. They also recommend that, in areas and times considered to be of risk, the systematic sampling of dead pigs (enhanced passive surveillance) should continue to ensure early detection of the disease.

-      European Food Safety Authority