Alert Pigs & Pork
Dutch pig sector fears approaching ASF
Industry organizations Livestock & Logistics and Producer Organization Pig Farming (POV) are concerned about the spread of African swine fever (ASF). Therefore, both organizations call on not bringing food from the holiday destination to the Netherlands and not leaving litter in nature. The call came on the day the virus was found much closer to the Netherlands.
ASF has spread in recent years from western Germany to Italy. In 2023, five times as many infections were detected on pig farms as in 2022, although these infections occurred almost exclusively in Eastern European countries. The number of infections among wild boars increased by 10% in 2023.
The virus is getting closer
Although the epidemiological situation in Germany seems to be improving, a recent infection on a pig farm was detected in the country for the first time since 2021. Remarkably, no signs of infections among wild boars in that area were found. This phenomenon in particular worries the industry organizations. "Although the ASF virus seems far away, it can suddenly appear 500 kilometers away due to human actions," the organizations write in a press release.
The virus also moved a long way closer to home. Belgian media reports that the virus was found in a carcass of a wild boar in the German state of Hesse. This means the virus moved 600 kilometers compared to the previous nearest infection source.
