Concern grows about African swine fever

There’s trouble in the veterinary world. This infection, which first arrived in Eastern Europe in the early 2000s, is now creeping towards Western Europe.

Originating in sub-Saharan Africa, this viral disease caused by the Asfivirus currently has no antidote, and no vaccine is expected to be available until 2027. As a result, the only solution is to exterminate all animals kept in buildings found to be contaminated.

While the infection cannot be transmitted to people, it is deadly for boars and pigs, with infected animals dying within a week of infection. The only current option is prevention.

For pig farmers, this means following biosafety measures, involving systematic disinfection of all external equipment, carefully implementing food safety practices and setting up ways to potentially separate animals.