Sweden succeeded in eradicating African swine fever

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Published 29 September 2024 at 08.02

Domestic. Just over a year after the first confirmed case, Sweden has now been officially declared free of African swine fever.

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African swine fever

  • Banned from staying in forests in Fagersta
  • African swine fever establishes itself in Sweden

On September 6, 2023, the first infected wild boar was discovered in the Fagersta area which led to an area of ​​1,000 square kilometers being cordoned off basically immediately.

Unlike during the corona­pandemic, the Swedish authorities immediately put in place a very far-reaching package of measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease, which can affect both wild boar and domestic pigs.

Among other things, restrictions were introduced on the public's right to move in the forests and all wild boars in the affected area are shot.

The swine fever has also led to extensive measures in other parts of Europe where countries such as Denmark and Germany have built fences along their borders to try to prevent the infection from spreading. However, it has not been particularly successful.

However, thanks to an unusually effective cooperation between authorities, hunters and local businesses and residents, the spread in Sweden could be stopped and now the EU's veterinary committee has issued a declaration that Sweden is free from African swine fever.

The official status will be published in the EU Commission's journal shortly, which means that the last restrictions in Fagersta can be lifted.

Lena Hellqvist Björnerot, chief veterinarian at The Swedish Agency for Agriculture thanks everyone involved for their efforts and highlights the importance of cooperation to achieve this successful outcome.

Although the outbreak is over, the authorities remind that the threat from swine fever remains, and that continued vigilance is crucial to prevent future outbreaks.

The experiences from Fagersta will be important in the continued work to keep Sweden free of African swine fever, according to the Swedish Agency for Agriculture.