Inaccurate statements
Also following communications sent to the press in recent days by regional opposition councilors containing serious and inaccurate statements, the Lombardy Region specifies the following with respect to ASF - African Swine Fever. The situation on pig farms has been favorably stable for about a month. With the last of the nine outbreaks, all recorded in province of Pavia, which occurred on September 28th. In the farms affected by the outbreaks, approximately 46.500 pigs were killed, also for preventive depopulation, for which the farmers will be paid compensation. In approximately 2 months, 1.566 farms were checked throughout the Lombardy Region. Furthermore, 9.745 inspections and 9.040 analyzes were carried out. The level of attention remains very high. So much so that, to date, 24 suspected cases have been reported by farmers which subsequent diagnostic investigations have not confirmed.
Relaxation of measures
“Given the favorable epidemiological picture in farms – comments the councilor for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Alessandro Beduschi – it is now necessary to 'relax' the restriction measures for Pavese due to African Swine Fever. Prescriptions that have certainly helped manage the risk of spread, but which today prevent farmers from moving almost 40.000 animals at the end of the cycle. In these hours, thanks to the commitment and collaboration of the entire supply chain, slaughterhouses and meat processing centers have been identified which should, starting from the end of this week, guarantee the resolution of the situation. Starting from the most critical situations and with protocols to manage operations in complete health safety."
Ticino Park
In wild boars, the main vectors of contagion, positivity confirmed in the territorial area of the Ticino Park (Torre dell'Isola). This led the Commission to create an infected area involving the Ticino Park. With the inclusion of municipalities from both the provinces of Pavia and Milan. The current Ordinance will shortly be amended to adapt the territories subject to restriction to this new epidemiological context. Specific prevention and land management activities have already been agreed with the Ticino Park. The proactive search for carcasses (passive surveillance) carried out by specialized companies and the containment of the wild boar species by the Provincial Police and specialized companies are confirmed in all territories subject to ASF restrictions in the province of Pavia.
Differences between 2023 and 2022
In the first half of 2023, 120 wild boar carcasses were recovered and analyzed (302 across the Region, 478 in 2022). And 632 wild boars were killed in restriction zone II from July 2023 to September 2023. The Region confirms that it intends to propose in recent days, by sending a dossier to the European Commission, the request for remodeling of the areas subject to restriction. Certainly while maintaining a high level of surveillance. It is designed to guarantee the early identification of a possible reintroduction of the virus into pig farms. This remodeling of the area would eliminate the restriction on the meat of animals sent to the slaughterhouse and would therefore quickly facilitate the resolution of critical issues on the Pavia farms. “The Lombardy Region – concludes Beduschi – continues to keep its guard very high. And it cannot accept that, out of mere political calculation, inaccurate communications are made. And with very serious messages for farmers and agriculture in Lombardy. Talking about 9 new outbreaks in the last week is an unacceptable mistake on the part of those who represent the institutions and cannot be allowed to generate unjustified alarmism. This is especially true for those who, after years of 'friendly' governments that have turned a blind eye to the indiscriminate spread of wild species, today speculate on such a delicate and important issue for the Lombardy economy. On which it would instead be useful for everyone to row on the same side" (source: Lombardy Region).