RIGA, March 31 (LETA) - As many as 66 new cases of African swine fever (ASF) were recorded in Latvia's wild boar population last week, the Food and Veterinary Service reported.

So far this year ASF has been found in 685 wild boars in 111 parishes of 25 municipalities and one city in Latvia.

The ASF outbreak started in Latvia in June 2014 not far from the border with Belarus. Since then, ASF has been found in 10,396 wild boars in Latvia, including 1,433 in 2024.

African swine fever is an extremely dangerous and contagious virus infection affecting pigs. If an infected pig is found in a farm, all pigs in the particular farm have to be culled, which means big losses for farmers.