Third ASF outbreak in pig farm in Poland in 2020

On 5 June 2020 the Chief Veterinary Officer informed about the designation of an African swine fever (ASF) in pigs in the territory of the Republic of Poland.

board with warning about ASF zone in Poland
Beeld: ©A.Galica

The 3rd outbreak of ASF in Poland in 2020, was confirmed on the basis of the results of tests obtained from the national reference laboratory for ASF, in a farm where 70 pigs were kept, located in the Włodawa commune, in the Włodawa district, in the Lubelskie province, at a distance of about 550 meters from the border with Belarus. Rare breed pigs (Mangalica breed) kept in the open system (free-range) were bred on the farm.

The farm is located in a restricted area (area defined in Part II of the Annex to EC Decision 2014/709/EU).

On the farm where the ASF outbreak was designated, procedures related to the eradication of the disease were implemented.

map of Poland with marked 3 ASF outbreaks and protection zones.
Beeld: ©A. Galica

The previous outbreaks were reported in the west of Poland in mid-March and early April respectively, in big commercial farms. This time, the disease occurred in a completely different region of the country, as well as in a farm keeping pigs on a completely different scale. In Lubelskie province, where the 3rd outbreak is noted, until 25 May 2020, 489 ASF infected wild boars were noted, which is the third most infected region in Poland.

Epizootic situation in wild boar 2020 (till 25 May 2020)

Voivodship

No of cases

Total

2 490

dolnośląskie

26

kujawsko-pomorskie

lubelskie

489

lubuskie

593

łódzkie

małopolskie

mazowieckie

128

opolskie

podkarpackie

145

podlaskie

73

pomorskie

1

śląskie

świętokrzyskie

warmińsko-mazurskie

897

wielkopolskie

138

zachodniopomorskie

It should be also noted that free-range pig farming is regarded as posing more threat, especially in a region where ASF is present in the wildlife, as the disease can be easily transmitted through contact with infected wild boars.

Source: PL CVO, A. Galica