Only 5% of African swine fever outbreaks will be declared in 14 EU countries in 2025 It affected the farmerAccording to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) data provided to ACN. In any case, the European Agency calls Respecting restrictions resulting from an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars in Catalonia He asks for “wisdom.”
“It is an emergency: biosafety and regulatory compliance are essential,” he warns. Lena MooreScientific Director of the Animal Health Department at the Financial Regulatory Authority. One of the “essential” tasks, the expert says. Control wild boar numbers to contain the outbreak It was discovered in Collserola last week.
“It’s one of the hardest parts of controlling the disease, but probably It is one of the most important measures we can take To prevent further spread of African swine fever. ACN He is responsible for the Financial Regulatory Authority, which is the agency responsible for monitoring the development of… Power Purchase Agreement In the European Union and Assess the risks of the virus and control measures.
Nearly 10,000 animals will be infected in 2025
African swine fever It currently affects 14 European Union countries, But five of them managed to contract the virus It doesn’t make the jump from wild hogs to farms, a move that’s even more troubling because of its impact on the pork industry. In fact, only 5% of all outbreaks occur Power Purchase Agreement This year was produced in the European Union on farms and The majority were concentrated in Romania (80%). Although there are some “sporadic cases” in Italy, Greece and Croatia.
The thickening of infections in the European Union affects wild pigs, With nearly 10,000 animals infected this year, According to data from the Financial Regulatory Authority from January 1 until Tuesday. In the case of Spain, there are only two cases, as the seven new cases discovered have not yet been registered.
According to data from the World Organization for Animal Health (Wowfor its abbreviation in English) There are also active outbreaks in neighboring countries outside the European Union, Mainly in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.
Involve livestock farmers
From the European agency, Moore asserts that African swine fever can be controlled if there are biosafety measures and “adequate” involvement of industry and population, following the rules and helping in the “early detection” of new cases: “If any further case is detected anywhere, The role of livestock breeders and residents is essential “To convey these suspicions to the authorities immediately.”
Origin unknown
Swine fever It is transmitted in two ways: from animal to animal and “indirectly”. The former generates a “slow,” wave-like transmission, Moore explains. The second is more “problematic” because the disease can “jump” from one place to another, Either due to contaminated meat or due to the presence of the virus on “any surface.”such as “Farmer’s Shoe”. Indirect infection was the case of Italy and Sweden, which eliminated African swine fever last year.
Asked about the “sandwich” theory as the origin of infection in Collserola, Moore recalls this Transmission of infection through contaminated meat products has “previously occurred,” For example, at the entrance Power Purchase Agreement In Sweden in 2023. Specifically, the European Food Safety Authority highlights the involvement of fishermen and Swedish authorities to eliminate the virus and the ability to declare the country free of swine fever last year.
In any case, the F.C.A It is not possible to comment on the origin of the outbreak because the investigation is in the hands of national authorities. Because the tests are still being analyzed in the laboratory to determine the subtype of the virus, and thus determine its source.