Review pig biosecurity as African swine fever hits Poland
African swine fever (ASF) is continuing to spread across Europe with a case discovered in Poland for the first time. The disease was confirmed in a dead wild boar near the border with Belarus.
ASF has spread throughout the Balkans, the Caucasus and Russia since 2007, and is endemic to areas of Africa. Last month the first case was confirmed in Lithuania in two wild boars.
There is concern any restrictions put in place on Poland may impact on EU trade with it being one the EU’s prominent pork producers, importers and exporters.
See also: Pig farmers call for tighter border controls to keep out African swine fever
Earlier this month NPA chairman Richard Longthorp said if Britain did not act quickly, there could be a repetition of the personal and financial trauma the country’s livestock farmers suffered in the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001.
BPEX is urging UK pig producers to review biosecurity to try and keep disease out.
Symptoms
- Sudden death of animals with few signs
- High fever (40.5-42C)
- Reddening of the skin
- Decreased appetite, listlessness, cyanosis and mobility, vomiting, diarrhoea and eye discharges
- Death within six to 13 days, or up to 20 days
- Abortion
- Mortality rate often 100%
What to do if ASF is confirmed
- Slaughter of all pigs on affected farms
- Dispose of carcasses, bedding
- Thoroughly disinfect
- An infected zone must be designated resulting in control of pig movements
- A detailed epidemiological investigation should be carried out
- Carry out surveillance of infected zone and surrounding area
View a map of where African Swine Fever is present
View African Swine Fever in a full screen map