African swine fever outbreaks surge across EU in 2025
Spain affected for first time in 31 years
11 June 2026
1 minute read
By: African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks increased sharply across the European Union in 2025, rising 76% in domestic pigs and 44% in wild boar compared with 2024, according to the European Food Safety Authority's latest annual epidemiological report.
The EU detected 585 ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs last year, with Romania accounting for 81% of all cases. Further increases were reported in Croatia, Estonia and Latvia. Despite the rise, the total remained below levels recorded in most years between 2018 and 2023. Most outbreaks (91%) occurred in establishments with fewer than 100 pigs.
ASF outbreaks in wild boar reached 11,036, their highest level since 2021 and a 44% increase from 7,677 in 2024. Poland accounted for nearly one in three outbreaks. In several countries including Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, a clear winter peak was observed.
The disease re-emerged in Spain after 31 years without detections, raising the number of affected EU member states to 14. Spanish authorities reported the first ASF outbreaks in wild boar since 1995 in Catalonia. Genetic analysis found no close match with any known ASF strains currently circulating in Europe, and no source of introduction was identified.
The EU carried out record ASF surveillance in 2025, analysing over 518,000 samples from domestic pigs and 618,000 from wild boar. Passive surveillance detected 84% of outbreaks in domestic pigs and 73% in wild boar. EFSA recommends affected member states continue to prioritise this monitoring approach.
Successful regional control campaigns were carried out in Czechia and southern Italy during 2025.
