These findings are presented in the latest annual epidemiological report published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which analysed the ASF situation across EU member states in 2025.
According to EFSA, a total of 585 ASF outbreaks were reported in domestic pigs during the year, compared with 333 outbreaks in 2024. Romania accounted for the vast majority of cases, representing 81% of all notifications in domestic pig holdings across the EU.
Notably, 91% of all outbreaks occurred on small farms with fewer than 100 pigs.
Wild Boar Remain the Main Reservoir of the Virus
The situation in wildlife also deteriorated considerably. In 2025, EU countries recorded 11,036 ASF cases in wild boar, the highest figure since 2021 and 44% higher than the previous year.
Nearly one-third of all wild boar cases were reported in Poland. Clear winter peaks of infection were also observed in Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
EFSA emphasises that wild boar remain a critical link in the epidemiological chain of ASF transmission in Europe and continue to pose a major challenge to disease control efforts.
Record Levels of Surveillance
The European Union conducted its largest-ever ASF surveillance programme in 2025.
Laboratories analysed more than 518,000 samples from domestic pigs and over 618,000 samples from wild boar.
Passive surveillance — the testing of dead or suspected animals — played a particularly important role. This approach was responsible for detecting 84% of outbreaks in domestic pigs and 73% of cases in wild boar.
As a result, EFSA recommends that member states continue to prioritise passive surveillance as the most effective tool for early disease detection.
Spain Faces ASF Again After a 31-Year Absence
One of the most significant events of the year was the return of ASF to Spain.
In late November 2025, authorities confirmed two positive wild boar cases in the municipality of Cerdanyola del Vallès, in the province of Barcelona. This marked Spain’s first ASF detection since 1994.
As a result, Spain became the 14th EU member state affected by ASF.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, all confirmed cases remained confined to the designated high-risk area in Catalonia through the end of January 2026. No ASF outbreaks have been detected in domestic pigs.
Source of Introduction Remains Unknown
Particular concern surrounds the genetic analysis of the virus detected in Spain.
EFSA experts reported that the isolate does not closely match any of the ASF strains currently circulating in Europe. The source of the virus introduction has not yet been identified.
Experts stress that the situation once again highlights the importance of maintaining strict farm biosecurity, strengthening wild boar population management, and ensuring rapid reporting of dead animals.
Although ASF poses no risk to human health, it remains one of the most serious threats to the pig sector due to its high mortality rate in pigs, trade restrictions, and significant economic losses.
PigUA.info, based on information from club-caza.com