A valuable contribution
The Parma Ham Consortium and the Parma Industrial Union join forces to give their contribution to the fight against African swine fever, through the donation to the Parma Local Health Authority of six cages intended for the capture of wild boars. The measures identified by the Extraordinary Commissioner for PSA, Dr. Giovanni Filippini, for the containment and eradication of this virus that is bringing the entire national pig farming system to its knees, include the strengthening of road and motorway barriers, in addition to the construction of other systems to combat the free movement of wild boars. Alongside these operations, further containment work has become necessary, which involves the depopulation of these animals, the main vectors of the spread of the PSA virus. A viral expansion control zone (CEV) has therefore been defined in which, among other things, the installation of traps for the capture of wild boars is planned, together with the intervention on the field of armed forces, operators qualified for wildlife control and other authorised figures.
A strategic sector for Italy
This is, of course, accompanied by constant epidemiological surveillance of domestic pigs and wild boars and strict verification of biosecurity measures within farms. "The Parma Ham Consortium protects the PDO and its production sector, which is strategic for our country's economy, including in terms of exports," comments Alessandro Utini, President of the Consortium. "PSA, which is completely harmless to humans, has already caused a significant reduction in the availability of fresh legs for our product and cost increases that are part of a framework of extremely burdensome price increases for our producers. The initiatives implemented to date by Commissioner Filippini have already produced important results, thanks to a particularly resolute attitude that is confirmed as necessary in this state of emergency. Alongside the activities to contain the virus in domestic pigs carried out in recent times, we are confident in an equally incisive intervention on wild fauna, which we wish to concretely support with our donation".
The defense of excellent productions
Gabriele Buia, President of the Parma Industrialists' Union, comments: "The fight against the spread of African Swine Fever has seen us constantly on the front lines as an Association, in defense of local companies and their excellent productions. This donation is therefore a continuation of what has been done and represents a concrete gesture, useful for increasing the protection of pig farms, avoiding further closures. It is understood, however, that a broader, stronger and faster counteraction and a precise political will are needed to definitively eradicate the epidemic and secure, also for the future, a sector that is a jewel in the crown of this province but also of the entire Italian economy". ”With the donation of this particular type of trap, the Parma Ham Consortium and the Parma Industrial Union guarantee an important contribution to the activity of combating the spread of the African Swine Fever epidemic that has been present in our province since the beginning of the year” states Massimo Fabi, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Local Health Authority and General Director of the Parma University Hospital Authority. ”The use of traps to capture wild boars is one of the tools indicated for the depopulation of wild pigs for the purpose of eradicating the disease, especially in those areas where, under current regulations, hunting is not permitted. The work of the veterinary services of the Local Health Authority continues with professionalism and particular commitment” concludes Fabi ”in implementing every useful action to overcome this critical situation, in constant coordination with the Extraordinary Commissioner for ASF, with the municipal administrations and all the subjects involved in various capacities”.
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