The European Union experienced a significant reduction in African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks among domestic pigs in 2024, with cases dropping by 83% compared to the previous year. This marks the lowest number of annual outbreaks since 2017.
Romania and Croatia contributed most to this decline, although Romania still accounted for 66% of the 333 outbreaks reported across 13 EU Member States. Notably, Sweden regained ASF-free status, and no new countries reported infections.
The majority of outbreaks (78%) occurred in small-scale farms with fewer than 100 pigs. However, larger operations in Italy and Poland saw an uptick in cases. Seasonal trends persisted, with over half of the outbreaks reported between July and September.
Passive surveillance methods, relying on clinical observations, were responsible for detecting 79.4% of outbreaks. Enhanced surveillance, including testing of deceased pigs, identified 14.2% of cases, while contact tracing uncovered 6.4%.
Despite the decline in domestic pig cases, ASF remains prevalent among wild boar populations, with 7,000 to 8,000 outbreaks reported annually since 2022.
