Switzerland culls over 10,500 pigs due to Enzootic Pneumonia outbreak

An outbreak of Enzootic Pneumonia (EP) has significantly impacted the Swiss swine industry, resulting in the slaughter or culling of more than 10,500 pigs to break infection chains.

The disease has affected 20 breeding farms across six cantons and 40 fattening farms across 14 cantons. In the Canton of Lucerne, all ten breeding farms infected with the lung disease have been cleared, involving approximately 5,200 animals.

Authorities have implemented a ‘total sanitation’ strategy, which requires affected breeding farms to be completely emptied. Following the removal of animals, stables must undergo cleaning and disinfection and remain empty for ten days. Federal officials noted that the epidemiological scale of this outbreak is unusual.

Animal transport within swine rings is considered a primary driver of the spread. For context, Switzerland regularly slaughters approximately 2.3 million pigs annually, averaging about 6,500 per day.