Estonia ends Africn Swine Fever emergency as Europe and Asia grapple with fresh outbreaks

ESTONIA – Estonia has officially declared an end to the emergency phase of its African swine fever (ASF) response, marking a milestone in its long-running battle against the devastating pig disease. 

The announcement comes after a summer in which 11 pig farms were hit by ASF, forcing authorities to cull around 56,000 animals and impose strict containment measures.

According to Estonia’s agriculture and food authority, all infected herds have been destroyed and disinfection has been completed at the affected sites. 

However, officials say surveillance remains tight, particularly at a second unit of the Ekseko farm complex, where the country’s largest outbreak this year occurred. The farm’s owners recently announced significant job losses following the crisis.

“While the emergency phase has ended, ASF control efforts continue,” the agency’s head said, noting that Estonia will review its disease response and preparedness plans to prevent future flare-ups.

Since 2015, ASF has cost Estonia an estimated EUR 22 million (US$26 million) in pig losses and control operations. 

Historically, outbreaks among domestic pigs in the country have been confined to the summer months between June and September. This year alone, 187 wild boar have also tested positive for the ASF virus.

Outbreaks persist across Europe

While Estonia steps down its alert, ASF continues to spread across Europe. Thirteen countries have recorded 722 outbreaks in domestic pigs so far in 2025, according to the European Commission’s Animal Disease Information System. 

Romania leads with 365 cases, followed by Serbia with 169. Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have also confirmed new infections, bringing their totals to 44 and 29, respectively.

Serbia’s latest 27 outbreaks began in late September, mostly among small backyard herds in the Macva district, although one commercial farm in Srem with 101 animals was also affected. 

In Croatia, 12 new outbreaks were reported in Osijek-Baranja County, involving herds of up to 138 pigs. Romania’s new cases have appeared in eight counties, primarily among non-commercial farmers.

ASF remains rampant among Europe’s wild boar population as well. Between September 25 and October 1, 12 countries reported new cases. 

Poland added 33, Latvia 16, Estonia and Lithuania 14 each, and Croatia 13. Overall, 18 countries have registered 8,317 ASF detections in wild boar this year, surpassing 2024’s total of 7,892.

Germany, one of the hardest-hit nations, has detected around 170 infected wild boar in North Rhine-Westphalia over the past three and a half months.

Authorities there have erected more than 114 kilometres of fencing and intensified hunting to curb the spread. No domestic pig infections have been reported in the state so far.

ASF threat expands in Asia

In Asia, India continues to battle a severe ASF crisis. Nearly 9,400 pigs have died in Mizoram since March, while another 3,690 were culled to contain the virus, according to Punjab News Express. 

Eight districts, particularly Siaha, have been affected. Further south, the Press Trust of India confirmed a new outbreak in Kottayam district, Kerala.

Elsewhere, Taiwan has warned travellers not to bring pork products into the island ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a peak travel period marked by pork-rich dishes. No ASF outbreaks have been detected in Taiwan to date.

Meanwhile, Japan is contending with a different swine disease. The country reported its 100th outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) since 2018, after confirming the virus at a farm in Gunma Prefecture. 

Around 5,900 pigs are affected. Japan remains free of ASF, but both diseases are highly contagious and economically devastating to pig producers worldwide.

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