Update on infections
In light of the national epidemiological picture of African Swine Fever (ASF), in which there are approximately 24 active outbreaks in domestic pig farms, of which 18 in Lombardy, 5 in Piedmont and 1 in Emilia-Romagna, outlining a situation that in its complexity requires caution, the Regional Health Councillor Luca Coletto highlights that in Umbria, at the moment, no case has been identified in either domestic or wild pigs, a condition for which the Umbrian territory is free from ASF.
"The checks, carried out by the Regional Veterinary Services, aimed at the possible early identification of the ASF viral circulation in the regional territory - says Councilor Coletto - continue, according to the prescriptions given by the Extraordinary Commissioner and the Ministry of Health and declined according to the Umbrian specificities of the territory, pig supply chain and epidemiological framework. The regional public veterinary health network, starting from the freelance veterinarians who work in pig farms, the veterinary services of the AUSL, up to the Regional Prevention, Veterinary Health and Food Safety Service, is constantly aimed at preventing the ASF virus from entering and spreading in the Umbrian territory, bringing with it the limitations and impediments that the active fight against this disease would impose".
Control of wild boars
Numerous initiatives have been undertaken at regional and local level, starting with control and surveillance activities, involving the Veterinary Services of the two ASL of Umbria and the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Umbria and Marche "Togo Rosati", which are carried out by reporting and carrying out diagnostic checks on all wild boars found dead. To this end, it is useful to remember that any citizen can make a report to the single regional number 075 81391. Careful surveillance is active on domestic pig farms, which is carried out in the presence of suspicious cases (high fever, sudden death, presence of haemorrhages, intestinal and nervous disorders, abortions) and increased mortality, which is verified by sampling sick animals and all pigs that have died. Furthermore, the levels of application of biosecurity measures are verified, aimed at preventing the ASF virus from being transmitted within pig farms.
A drastic reduction
The Regional Urgent Interventions Plan (PRIU), in implementing the provisions of the commissioner and ministerial decrees, has also identified two pig districts of greater importance, specifically in the Bettona and Prosciutto di Norcia districts, where a drastic reduction in the wild pig population can be achieved. In this regard, the opportunity to identify additional pig districts is being studied in order to provide more widespread protection to the production sites of the pig supply chain. Taking into account the imminent opening of the wild boar hunting season, the Regional Prevention Service has sensitized all interested parties and the competent authorities to monitor hunting activities and to respect the ban on abandoning the viscera of slaughtered animals in the environment. Finally, aware that the ASF virus does not "walk" only on the legs of wild boars but can also be transmitted by human behavior and habits, the Regional Prevention Service has asked the regional services responsible for coordinating waste collection and management activities and the organization of the territory and sports, to reactivate an effective information campaign to prevent wild animals from accessing urban waste; waste or food is not abandoned in the environment; hikers are invited to change clothes and shoes after walks in agricultural and wooded areas (source: Umbria Region).
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