ASF outbreak in backyard pig farm in Poland

On 15 June 2020 the Chief Veterinary Officer informed about the designation of the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in pigs in the territory of the Republic of Poland.

wild boar walking close up
Beeld: ©A. Galica

The 4th 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 17 pigs (8 piglets, 7 piglets, 2 pigs for fattening) were kept, located in the town of Ratowice, in the commune of Lipno, Leszczyński district, Wielkopolska province.

The farm is located in a protection area (part I of the Annex to Commission Implementing Decision No. 2014/709/EU).

On the farm where the ASF outbreak was designated, procedures related to the eradication of the disease were implemented. The outbreak was eliminated: the animals were culled and corpses sent for rendering.

map of Poland with marked 4 ASF outbreak and blue and red zones
Beeld: ©A. Galica

The 4th outbreak was noted in a backyard farm, however in the region with intensive pig production. According to Central Statistical Office data on the state of the pig population in Poland in December 2019, the Wielkopolskie province was characterized by the largest share in the domestic pig population, i.e. 35.9%. In May, the Wielkopolska Chamber of Agriculture emphasized once again that in the Leszno district there is a concentration of pork producers, with about 150,000 pigs currently kept on farms. Any outbreak of ASF in this area generates serious consequences for breeders, as the restriction on pig movements are implemented instantly in 10 km area around the outbreak, and trade restriction in EU zoning are established for a longer period.

This is the second outbreak of ASF in Wielkopolska province this year. The previous one was confirmed on 5 April 2020 in Więckowice, in the Dopiewo commune, in the Poznań district, on a farm with ca. 10 000 pigs. This farm was considered as contact with respect to the first outbreak, which was recorded in the commune of Otyń in the neigbouring Lubuskie province on 20 March 2020, on the farm where nearly 24 000 pigs were kept.

Source: PL CVO, farmer.pl