A major campaign by the European Food Safety Authority is set to run for a third year to continue raising awareness about African swine fever (ASF) in European livestock pigs. Targeting the south-eastern region of Europe, the campaign is running in partnership with local authorities and is underway in eighteen focus countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo* , Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia.

The Stop African Swine Fever Campaign is part of ongoing efforts by the European Commission and other international bodies to halt the spread of ASF in the EU and neighbouring countries. Farmers, veterinarians, and hunters will be targeted in the campaign, as they have an important role in advising farmers about on-farm biosecurity.

“African swine fever is a highly contagious disease that is spreading in regions across Europe that were previously unaffected. The spread of the disease is a global threat and has resulted in devastating losses for pig farmers in Europe and beyond” says Bernhard Url, EFSA’s Executive Director.

““Together with our partners in local authorities we are working to reach farmers whose livestock and livelihoods have been affected by this deadly disease. The #StopASF campaign aims to inform farmers, as well as veterinarians and hunters, about what to look out for with our message of detect, prevent and report.”“

Visit EFSA’s ASF campaign website for more information as well as factsheets, infographics, ready-to-use social media posts and other materials.

What is African Swine Fever?

African swine fever (ASF) is a deadly viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boar. The virus is harmless to humans but causes significant socio-economic disruption in many countries. There are no vaccines approved in Europe, so an outbreak can lead to the slaughter of large numbers of pigs in affected areas.

Who is the campaign targeting?

The campaign is aimed at groups of people and individuals who come into contact with domestic pigs and wild boar, particularly pig farmers, hunters, and veterinarians. With the assistance of local farmers’ groups, veterinary organisations, hunting associations, and other relevant bodies, the campaign aims to raise awareness about how to prevent the spread of ASF.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence