4 new ASF outbreaks in pig farms in eastern Poland

Last week we witnessed a ‘black series’ of African Swine Fever in pig farms in eastern Poland – a total of six new outbreaks were noted.  Just at the end of the week, the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate informed about four outbreaks of African swine fever in three different provinces of the country. Including confirmation of the first outbreak in the Podkarpackie province.

The Chief Veterinary Officer informed about the designation of 4 outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in pigs in the territory of the Republic of Poland.

pig behind a fence
Beeld: ©A.Galica

The 9th 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, on a farm where 51 pigs (11 piglets, 36 fattening pigs, 4 sows) were kept, located in the town of Sarnowo, in the Lidzbark Warmiński commune, in the Lidzbark district, in the Warminsko-Mazurskie province.

The farm is located in a hazard area (area defined in part III of the Annex to EC Decision 2014/709/EU), where previously ASF both in wild boars and in pig farms was noted.

The 10th 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, on a farm where 339 pigs (85 piglets, 72 weaners, 138 fattening pigs, 41 sows and 3 boars) were kept, located in the town of Gorajec-Zagroble-Kolonia, in the Radecznica commune, in the Zamojskie district, in the Lubelskie province.

The farm is located in a hazard area (area defined in part III of the Annex to EC Decision 2014/709/EU), where previously ASF both in wild boars and in pig farms was noted.

a rare pig on a free range
Beeld: ©A.Galica

The 11th 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, on a farm where 30 pigs (24 fattening pigs, 5 sows and 1 boar) were kept, located in the town of Ułazów, Stary Dzików commune, Lubaczów district, Podkarpackie province.

The farm is located in a restricted area (area defined in part II of the Annex to EC Decision 2014/709/EU), where previously ASF both in wild boars was noted.

It is worth recalling that ASF outbreaks were recently recorded in pig herds in Podkarpacie in 2018, in the Cieszanów commune, adjacent to the commune where the 11th outbreak has been confirmed.

The 12th 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, on a farm where 2,648 pigs (fatteners) were kept, located in the town of Smoryń, in the Frampol commune, in the Biłgoraj district, in the Lubelskie province.

The farm is located in a hazard area (area defined in part III of the Annex to EC Decision 2014/709/EU), where previously ASF both in wild boars and in pig farms was noted.

On all the farms where the ASF outbreaks were designated, procedures related to the eradication of the disease were implemented.

map of Poland with asf zones and marked 10th and 11th outbreak
Beeld: ©A.Galica

A total of 12 ASF outbreaks in pigs have been confirmed since the beginning of the year. Compared to last year, the situation seems to be quite good - in the same period of 2019, ASF has already been confirmed in nearly 30 herds of pigs. However, taking into account the damage caused by the disease, it can be seen that the situation is serious: from the beginning of the year, nearly 39,000 pigs died or were culled due to the disease - more than in all 48 last year's outbreaks.

Source: PL CVO, farmer.pl