African swine fever spreads among Lithuania’s wild boar population

African swine fever (ASF) is spreading rapidly among Lithuania’s wild boar, with 939 confirmed cases detected across 22 municipalities this year, the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) reported on Sunday.

According to the agency, 885 of the cases were found in dead boar, while 54 were confirmed in hunted animals. The highest concentration of infections—616 cases—was recorded in Panevėžys district. Other high-risk areas include Radviliškis, Pakruojis, Biržai, and Pasvalys districts, where the virus is circulating persistently in nature.

ASF has also been detected in wild boar in Anykščiai, Ignalina, Kaunas, Kėdainiai, Kretinga, Lazdijai, Mažeikiai, Rokiškis, Skuodas, Šalčininkai, Šiauliai, Švenčionys, Ukmergė, Utena, Varėna, Vilnius, and Zarasai districts.

Compared to neighbouring countries, Estonia has reported 69 cases this year, Latvia 302, and Poland 1,904.

VMVT Deputy Director Paulius Bušauskas warned that the virus remains a persistent threat in Lithuania and the wider region, with the highest risk stemming from its active spread among wild boar. He noted that current trends resemble the 2018–2019 outbreak, when infections peaked in wild populations and led to numerous farm outbreaks.

“ASF usually enters farms due to failures in biosecurity measures,” Bušauskas said. “There can be no complacency—these requirements must be followed daily.”

The last farm outbreaks in Lithuania were recorded in 2025 in Kelmė, Joniškis, and Radviliškis districts, affecting small-scale operations. A major outbreak in October 2025 in Nemenčinė, Vilnius district, infected 19,672 pigs, while another large outbreak in Baisogala, Radviliškis district, affected 381 animals.