African swine fever: Italy facing an ever-growing emergency
European experts stress the need for a coordinated national plan to deal with the emergency
The African swine fever (ASF) epidemic in Italy is taking on increasingly alarming proportions. Despite intensified efforts from the affected regions, the disease continues to spread, infecting livestock and putting at risk a crucial sector of Italian agri-food.
An unstoppable virus
ASF is a highly contagious disease that affects pigs, almost always causing the death of infected animals. Introduced in Europe in recent years, the virus has spread rapidly, reaching Italy as well. The first reports of outbreaks date back to 2022, and since then the situation has only worsened.
Regions at the forefront
Regions such as Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Liguria and Tuscany have long been grappling with PES outbreaks. The authorities have implemented extraordinary measures, such as increased boar hunting, the construction of barriers and increased health controls. However, these efforts do not seem to be sufficient to stop the spread of the virus.
The European Union’s report
A recent report by the European Union has shown that current containment strategies are insufficient. European experts stress the need for a coordinated national plan to address the emergency, warning that the virus is spreading faster than the measures taken.
The containment measures
To cope with the emergency, the Italian and European authorities have put in place a series of containment measures. These include:
- Killing of infected animals: This measure is necessary to limit the spread of the virus within the holdings
- Restrictions on movement: Restrictions have been imposed on the movement of animals and pig products from infected areas
- Strengthening of health controls: The health controls in livestock and slaughterhouses have been intensified
- Wild boar hunting: There have been organized campaigns for wild boar hunting (main protagonists of the spread of the virus) to reduce the population and limit the spread of the virus
- Barrier construction: Physical barriers have been built to prevent infected animals from moving from one area to another
The challenges of the future
Despite the efforts made, the fight against PES is still long and difficult. Further action is needed to contain the epidemic and protect Italian livestock. Only through a joint commitment of all the parties involved will it be possible to overcome this emergency and protect our country’s livestock.