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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 9th November 2017
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Sharing best practices ‘critical’ to halt spread of ASF
Lithuania was the first country in the European Union to report cases in wild boar.

Analysis reveals disease is continuing to spread among wild boar
 
Food safety experts have declared that sharing best practices in fighting African swine fever (ASF) is critical to prevent the spread of the disease.

Research by the European Food Safety Authority found that the disease is continuing to spread among wild boar in the Baltic States and Poland. The experts concluded that humans have been critical in spreading the disease. For example, through the disposal of contaminated waste in wild boar habitat.

‘Drastic depopulation, targeted hunting of female wild boar and carcass removal solely implemented as measures to control ASF in the wild boar population need to be implemented in a highly effective manner (at or beyond the limit of reported effectivity in wild boar management) to sustainably halt the spread of ASF,’ the authors conclude.

In the study, EFSA experts helped Baltic countries and Poland analyse epidemiological data collected until September 2017. The analysis revealed that two more EU Member States - the Czech Republic and Romania - reported cases in 2017, bringing the total number of affected Member States to six.

African swine fever is a devastating disease of pigs that is spread either via direct animal contact or through contaminated food, such as sausages. In January 2014, Lithuania became the first country in the European Union to report cases in wild boar. This was followed in June and September 2014 by Latvia and Estonia respectively.

Measures to prevent the spread of ASF began after the disease was first confirmed in Brussels in June 2013. The measures included increased biosecurity and surveillance on pig farms and the use of wild boar repellents.

Findings from the study will be presented by EFSA veterinary surgeon Sofie Hollander later today (9 November) at a conference organised by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.

The study, 'Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the Baltic States and Poland', is published in the EFSA Journal.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.