Hungary joins the European campaign to stop African swine fever (#StopASF)

By: STA Date: 2023. 06. 02. 09:00

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is also supporting the fight against African swine fever (ASP) with a European-level campaign in 2023. Now in its fourth year, the #StopASF (#StopAfricanSwineFever – Let’s stop the African swine fever) campaign in eighteen European countries, including Hungary, draws the attention of farmers, hunters and veterinarians to this highly contagious disease, encouraging stakeholders to take action against the disease to stop its spread.

(Photo: Pixabay)

“Over the past decade, African swine fever has had a dramatic impact on the European pig industry and continues to plague local and regional economies to this day. Although the latest data show encouraging signs that efforts to stop the spread of the virus are working, the picture in Europe is far from positive and we must remain vigilant. Farmers, hunters and veterinarians have a particularly important role to play in reporting suspected cases,” said EFSA Executive Director Bernhard Url.

The #StopASF campaign encourages commercial and backyard farmers, veterinarians and hunters to “detect – prevent – report” suspected cases of ASP in pigs and wild boar. It takes place in partnership with the local authorities of eighteen countries.

According to a new EFSA report published today, the number of ASP occurrences in pig and wild boar herds in 2022 has significantly decreased compared to the previous year in countries such as Romania, Poland and Bulgaria. However, ASP has re-emerged in Greece and the Czech Republic and continues to spread in EU neighboring countries such as Serbia and Moldova. It was first announced in 2022 in North Macedonia. Those concerned and those interested can read up-to-date information about the ASP situation in Hungary at https://portal.nebih.gov.hu/afrikai-sertespestis.

Nébih