24,000 pigs to culled as African swine fever found on farm in western Poland

BY ALISTAIR DRIVER ON MARCH 23, 2020
In a worrying development, African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed on a large farm in western Poland, the first time the virus has been found in domestic pigs in the region.

A total of 23,746 pigs, including nearly 7,000 sows, were due to be culled after the outbreak was detected in a farm in Niedoradz in the Lubusz Voivodeship, according to reports. The farm is approximately, 65km from the German border.

The farm sold all stock produced as piglets – there were nearly 17,000 piglets on the farm at the time – prompting concerns over possible further spread.

Poland’s Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed the outbreak on Monday, based on the results of tests from March 20. The veterinary inspectorate has established new restrictions around the farm.

The farm is located in an area already subject to ASF restrictions, the so-called ‘red zone’, following an outbreak in wild boar, detected for the first time in November 2019. A total of146 cases of ASF have since been found in wild boar in the district the farm lies within.

The proximity of the outbreak – the virus has been found in wild boar within 12km of the German border – has prompted joint action between Germany and Poland, including erecting fences along the border and culling wild boar.