Slovakia reports first outbreak of ASF in domestic swine in 2025

On May 2, 2025, the National Reference Laboratory in Zvolen confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) on a commercial farm located in Dolné Semerovce cadastre, Levice district, marking the first outbreak in domestic pigs recorded in Slovakia in 2025.

The affected farm, identified as CEHZ 219375, housed a total of 18,458 pigs. The first clinical signs (fever, listlessness, diarrhea) were observed on May 1.

Following confirmation of the outbreak, the State Veterinary and Food Service (SR SVPS) activated strict control measures, including a ban on animal movement to and from the affected farm. In addition, a 3-km protection zone and a 10-km surveillance zone were established around the outbreak, covering multiple localities in Levice and Krupina districts.

During the weekend following the detection, a complete depopulation of the farm was planned and began on May 5. Restrictions on the movement of animals of other species, swine products, meat, semen, ova, embryos, feed, tools, and waste that could facilitate virus transmission were also implemented, except with explicit permission from the SR SVPS. Active surveillance in the designated areas is ongoing.

Excluding the current outbreak, since the disease was first confirmed in the country on July 25, 2019, Slovakia has reported 45 outbreaks in domestic swine (11 in 2019, 17 in 2020, 11 in 2021, 5 in 2022, and 1 in 2024) and 3,444 outbreaks in wild boar (27 in 2019, 388 in 2020, 1,658 in 2021, 561 in 2022, 535 in 2023, 165 in 2024, and 110 in 2025).