The contagion in detail
La African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease that exclusively affects pigs and wild boars. This disease is harmless to humans, it cannot be transmitted from animals to people in any way, but it represents a potential danger for livestock farms. In the province of Parma, the first cases of PSA were recorded at the beginning of this year. To date, the infection in our areas only affects wild fauna, i.e. wild boars, the infection has not entered the farms. “The veterinary services – explains Marco Pierantoni, director of the public health department of the Local Health Authority of Parma – are involved in the control of African swine fever, above all to avoid the entry of the virus into pig farms, to maintain both the breeding, as well as the slaughtering and processing of pork-based foods. In our province the virus is present only in wild boars. Even on this species - continues the director - on animals found dead or killed while hunting, we carry out sampling to verify the presence of the virus".
The services involved
A territorial operational group chaired by Marco Pierantoni, made up of veterinarians and professionals from the provincial police, from the territorial office for territorial security and civil protection, from the STACP (contact persons fishing and aquaculture) of Parma, of the management body for the Parks and Biodiversity of western Emilia, of the Prefecture of Parma. The group works in close collaboration with the Mayors, the Province, the Region and the National Extraordinary Commissioner for Swine Fever. “Not only the commitment of the professionals, citizens can also do a lot by following some simple instructions – continues Pierantoni – Everyone's collaboration is important on animals found dead: in the event of finding carcasses of wild boars, it is necessary to call the single number regional, which activates the veterinary service for sampling. Finally - concludes the director - I would like to thank all those who collaborate in this action to contain the virus, to name a few: the territorial hunting areas, many local voluntary associations, the local Italian Alpine club and the management body of the lorry of the Cisa”.
Everyone's collaboration: what to do
If while walking through the woods or the countryside, you come across a wild boar carcass (therefore a dead wild boar or remains of bones), you need to call the single regional number 051.6092124, active 24 hours a day, 24 days a week. memorize the geographical position on your mobile phone so you can communicate it to the operator and, if possible, take a photo of the carcass. Calling, finding out your position and taking a photo: three useful actions, because they allow the veterinary service of the Parma Local Health Authority to intervene promptly to collect the carcass and clean up the area. The virus is in fact very resistant, persisting for several months in the environment and in the carcasses of dead animals, in uncooked or undercooked meat. African swine fever can spread between wild boars and pigs as well as through direct contact and through contaminated food, but also through humans, footwear, clothing, equipment and the wheels of transport vehicles. For this reason, it is important not to leave leftovers or food waste in the environment, especially if they contain pork or wild boar meat which can be a vehicle for infection. Finally, when returning from a walk, trip or excursion, before getting back in the car and returning home, you need to change your shoes and put them in a bag and then clean them carefully. These precautions must be followed with even greater attention by those who enter pig farms for work or other reasons (source: AUSL Parma).