News Pigs
AVP forces China to impose new import restrictions
Chinese customs have linked imports of pigs from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina to new infections of African swine fever (ASF), according to a statement from the Chinese government. All pigs from the countries concerned are sent back and the meat is destroyed. Things are better closer to home.
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The decision comes as no surprise. The three countries were hit by the virus at the end of June. To prevent the spread in the country, China almost always chooses to close the borders for meat and livestock from the affected countries. 23 European countries have now been affected by African swine fever (ASF). Moreover, the three countries hardly play a significant role on the world market.
Mixed image
The figures seem to show a contradictory pattern about the progression of the disease. On the one hand, the number of infections among wild animals appears to be decreasing. On the other hand, the epidemic is still spreading to new areas and more infections were detected among pig farmers in Poland in the first half of 2023 than in the same period of 2022. In the Eastern European country, the tenth infection was reported at the end of June reported a pig farm of the year. Last year there were only four.
Things are a lot better close to home. In Germany the number of infections actually decreases. In June, around eight infections per week were reported in most weeks, with a few outliers of more than ten infections per week. In the winter, the number of infections per week was regularly between thirty and 75. The counter in Germany now stands at 5.442 infections among wild boars.
The battle continues
France and Italy have now decided to work together to combat it. Both countries have set up a joint action group to contain the number of infections. In Italy, 706 outbreaks have now been detected among wild boars, which have already resulted in two infections among livestock. The latest took place at the French border, prompting the neighboring country to take action. The help is welcome, because Italian authorities indicate in various media that they are overwhelmed by the sharp increase in the number of infections.
Germany is also working hard to combat the epidemic. For example, Saxony has already decided to permanently reduce their wild boar populations. In addition, the state is setting up protection zones where wild boars are not allowed to live.