Swine fevers excluded in feral wild boar found dead

In this episode, Claire Scott, APHA's Pig Expert Group lead, and Cat Man, Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO) at Starcross Veterinary Investigation Centre (VIC), discuss investigations into feral wild boar found dead, in which notifiable diseases including the swine fevers were ruled out.This podcast includes pathological descriptions of animal disease which some listeners may find upsetting. This episode was recorded in July 2026.Useful links: Find out how to report suspect notifiable animal disease. Read about this case on page 3 of the quarterly Great Britain pig disease surveillance emerging threats report for January  to March 2026.Read more about diagnostic investigations into a cluster of deaths of wild boar from the Forest of Dean in 2021, which was published in the Vet Record.  Find out how vets can submit farm animals in England and Wales for a post-mortem examination and check if the submission is eligible for free carcase collection. Find out how vets can submit samples from farm animals in England and Wales for diagnostic submissions. Find your nearest Veterinary Investigation Centre (VIC) or surveillance pathology partner to discuss submissions of wild mammals found dead. Report dead wild birds using this online tool.Visit GOV.UK for information on what items can be brought into the UK and for information around the ban on personal meat imports currently in place to protect farmers from foot and mouth.An on-line guide with images of the clinical signs and pathology of ASF is available to veterinarians and pig keepers. This notes that, at the start of an outbreak, deaths may initially just involve one or two pigs. Significantly increased mortality may only develop later once the virus has spread further in a group.  © Crown copyright 2026