The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) is reporting continued global expansion of both African Swine Fever (ASF) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), reinforcing the importance of vigilance and biosecurity across North America.
As part of its March eNewsletter, SHIC released its latest global and domestic swine disease surveillance reports, highlighting increased activity in several key regions.
According to SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton, ASF cases have risen significantly in South Korea, with more than 20 outbreaks reported across seven provinces as of mid-February.
At the same time, progress has been made in Europe. Germany has officially declared ASF eradication in Saxony after going one full year without a detected case—meeting the criteria required to confirm elimination.
However, challenges remain elsewhere on the continent. Spain has expanded its ASF high-risk zone due to ongoing detections in wild boar populations, though no cases have been identified in domestic swine to date.
“One area we still note significant challenges includes the management of wild boar,” said Becton. “It is critical to reduce exposure between wild populations and domestic pigs.”
FMD also continues to present a global threat. The virus remains active in the Middle East and has been detected in Cyprus, with multiple strains circulating across different regions. Additionally, recent product seizures in the United Kingdom have highlighted ongoing risks tied to contaminated pork products entering disease-free countries.
Despite these global developments, neither ASF nor FMD has been identified in the United States.
Becton emphasized that the same foundational biosecurity practices used to control endemic diseases such as PRRS and PED are equally critical in preventing the introduction of foreign animal diseases like ASF and FMD.
Key Takeaway:
With global disease pressure increasing, North American producers must remain focused on strict biosecurity, surveillance, and risk mitigation strategies to protect herd health and market stability.
For full access to SHIC’s domestic and global surveillance reports, visit swinehealth.org.
