African swine fever (ASF) was first found in the United Kingdom. Not in a pig, but in meat seized at Northern Ireland airport in Belfast. However, the British organization of pig traders is shocked.
Customs in Northern Ireland seized more than 300 kilograms of illegal meat and dairy products from passengers at the airport in June. Researchers have discovered traces of the ASF virus in samples. The virus can survive in processed meat for several months, British media report. The British Department of Agriculture says it does not consider the find a serious threat to Northern Ireland's pig farming. The United Kingdom also retains the country's informal 'disease-free status'.
The National Pig Association, the organization of pig traders, sees the discovery as a signal of the vulnerability of the British pig herd. “We have always said that the biggest threat to UK pig farming is the illegal import of infected meat products. The risk is high and it is a major concern for us as an industry," a spokesperson said.
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