Necessary clarification
The Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, responded in the Senate to a question on the topic of swine fever presented by the League. Specifically, the intervention became necessary after the first case of PSA in the province of Cuneo.
Evolution to follow
The minister stated: "The Cuneo case did not take us by surprise. The national surveillance system detected the wild boar testing positive for African swine fever (ASF) and immediately activated the required procedures. We are closely monitoring the epidemiological developments in that province, which we know to be an area of extraordinary importance for our pig population. However, before discussing Cuneo, I would like citizens and industry stakeholders to be aware of one fact: in 2024, there were 31 outbreaks in domestic pig farms; in 2025, there was only one outbreak, as in 2026. This is no ordinary result; it is the fruit of years of coordinated, comprehensive, and often silent work, which today allows us to address the Cuneo case with proven tools and a functioning chain of command."
Collaboration with ENCI
What are we doing? The Ministry is working closely with the Special Commissioner for ASF, the Piedmont Region, and the competent local authorities. For Cuneo, we are developing a dedicated strategy that takes into account the specific epidemiological, environmental, and production characteristics of the area. On the operational front, the Special Commissioner has initiated collaboration with the Italian National Kennel Club (ENCI) to use sniffer dogs to search for carcasses: this is a valuable tool for early detection of the virus's circulation in wild fauna. Critical crossings along the Asti-Cuneo highway, one of the main corridors for wild boars, have been closed. Wild boar depopulation efforts continue, with one million euros already allocated to the Regions to strengthen these interventions, and surveillance of farms has been further intensified.
A veterinary issue and not only
I'd like to be clear on a fundamental political point: African swine fever is not, as the senator questioning me said, just a veterinary issue. It's a question of food sovereignty and the national economy: we're talking about 8 million animals raised, nearly 23.000 farms, a turnover of €3 billion in the agricultural sector and €8 billion in the industrial sector. We're talking about hams, salamis, PDO and PGI products that are the symbol of Made in Italy throughout the world. A lapse on this front wouldn't just be a health risk, it would be a blow to the nation's productive identity. That's why we don't just manage the emergency: we prevent it, and when the emergency strikes, as in Cuneo, we respond promptly, with resources and with a system we've strengthened in recent years. On the economic front, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry has already allocated €25 million for 2025 to support pig farms that have suffered damage. We have also asked the European Commission to activate the exceptional market support measures provided for animal disease emergencies. Therefore, farmers are not alone. The numbers tell us that we are on the right track: from 31 outbreaks to one, not due to luck, but to method. We will continue on this path with the same determination, even in the case of Cuneo.
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