Analysis Pigs
Swine fever on the decline, but still a risk
The swine fever virus (ASF) is losing its grip on the European market, according to a recent report by the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA). However, there is a risk that the sector is celebrating too soon. For example, Slovakia is not free of the virus after all and ASF continues to circulate among wild boars in Germany.
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According to EFSA, the number of infections on pig farms will have fallen by 2024% in 83, to 333 cases. This is the lowest number since 2017. The number of infections among wild animals remained virtually the same in the same year.
The decrease in the number of infections on farms is mainly due to a decrease in cases in Croatia and Romania, which were real hotbeds the year before. However, the number of outbreaks in Romania remains dominant: no less than 66% of all outbreaks occurred there. In addition, the number of countries in which outbreaks occurred decreased for the first time since 2014, from fourteen to thirteen.
Surprising increase
At first glance, the situation seems to be under control. However, it is still too early for the sector to rest on its laurels. For example, Slovakia reported its first outbreak on a commercial pig farm in 2025. The impact of the infection is significant, as the affected farm housed almost 18.500 pigs. This is a major setback, as the country seemed to be on its way to getting the virus under control. Since 2020, the number of infections in the pig sector has decreased annually. Last year, only one infection was reported.
In addition, the virus continues to lead to infections among wild boars in Germany. This applies not only to the border area with Poland, but also to the region around Frankfurt am Main, where the states of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg meet. In this region, the two thousandth wild boar that died from the virus was recently reported. Almost all infections occurred in Hesse. In 2025, the virus led to only one infection on a pig farm.