News African swine fever
ASF outbreaks in Indonesia continue to rise
African swine fever (ASF) has also been circulating in Indonesia since the end of last year. As a result, the pig herd has thinned out considerably this year on the southern islands. Closer to home, in Poland, the number of wild boars found carrying the virus also continues to increase. Meanwhile, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States (FAO) are calling for preventive action.
In the current situation, 51 countries are affected by the virus, including Indonesia. The pig population in East Nusa Tengara province, which belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands, has been severely depleted by outbreaks of the virus. More than 24.000 pigs have died from the virus since the beginning of this year, local authorities said. The figures are based on the period from early January to June.
Most of the cases took place in the regency of Belu, where 6.919 pigs had died. According to experts in the area, the outbreak of the virus started on Timor Island. The virus is said to have spread so much because the authorities detected too late that it was ASF.
That peak occurred between February and mid-June, when 19.000 pigs died from the virus. The Belu Animal Husbandry mentioned that the numbers started to decrease in April and that there were no new deaths in the last few days.
Poland
The virus is also prevalent in Poland and is still regularly detected in wild boars. In total, 32 dead boars were found in the first half of July with ASF, the Polish authority confirmed last week. The finds are spread over 5 communities, including in the district of Lebus near the German border.
More than 2.800 cases of ASF in wild boars have been reported in Poland since the beginning of the year. In Germany there are many concerns about the possible introduction of the virus via the border. Last week the green light was given for the construction of a fence along the border of West Pomerania. According to the agricultural department, the fence will be 62 km long and will cost approximately €1,2 million. After the construction of the fencing is complete, the entire German-Polish border will be protected by fences. However, it concerns movable fences, German federal states are striving to build fixed fences.
OIE and FAO
The rapid spread of ASF and the major consequences it entails creates a lot of concern within the sector. The OIE and FAO this week called for global action against the virus. The Global Initiative of the OIE and FAO aims to strengthen control measures and minimize the impact of the virus.
By creating a collaboration between the public and private sectors, the aim is to reduce risk. The initiative builds on previous regional efforts and is based on expert recommendations. Actions around the initiative must take place in addition to transparency in the reporting of the animal disease.
Chanti Oussoren
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