SCIENTIFIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF)

The experts of RACFCH assessed the risk of ASF virus occurrence and spread for the South Central region of the country on the basis of the assessment of all risk indicators (risk factors) contributing to the conservation of the virus in the wild nature, presence in domestic pigs, presence in other industrial, family and personal farms, incl. and in free-range Eastern Balkan pigs breed, contributing to its recurrence and spread. The risk is defined as the probability of occurrence and spread of ASF and its impact on the pig sector, incl. taking into account the uncertainty of the data collected on the current epidemiological situation and the scale for risk levels. Efforts to eradicate the disease need to continue in order to re-categorize more areas from Bulgaria from Part III to Part II, which will ease some restrictive measures in the pig trade, as well as an integrated approach to the wild boar population. in Bulgaria and neighboring countries. A special challenge for the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) is the protection of the population of the Eastern Balkan pig breed, as it is difficult to achieve the required level of biosecurity during grazing and breeding, and currently the herds of IBS have decreased significantly. This assessment is also formed by the fact that the ASF virus is present in the wild and in domestic movements of neighboring administrative regions of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Romania. The large number of cases of ASF in wild boars on the territory of the country is impressive and in the southern part of Romania. The virus is also found in neighboring Serbia and affects both, wild and domestic pigs 3. The RACFH experts considers that the likelihood of ASF reappearing and spreading within the South Central region in which the livestock farm № 4202-0073, owned by Angelina Lefterova Docheva, is located in the village of Radinovo, Maritsa municipality, district Plovdiv, intended for breeding sows and fattening pigs (EPA) according to Art. 132, para. 7 of the VAHL – BUL is assessed with a HIGH LEVEL of risk (H).BG; docx; EFSAfocalpoint@mzh.government.b