Tuscany reports first domestic pig case of African swine fever

On 26 June, Italy’s CEREP confirmed the first African swine fever (ASF) case in a domestic pig in Tuscany. The positive result came from a carcass detected during a routine veterinary check at a commercial farm in the municipality of Comano, Massa‑Carrara province.

Samples were sent to the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana and national and EU containment measures were immediately activated. The Ministry of Health convened a central crisis unit together with the PSA (African swine fever) commissioner to define protection zones, reinforce active and passive surveillance, and implement control procedures across the affected area. The response is coordinated by the Tuscany Region, local ASL, the Ministry of Health and the extraordinary PSA commissioner. ASF affects only swine and does not pose a risk to human health, but authorities are focusing on safeguarding the regional pig herd.