ASF Europe: Italy counts 5 wild boars infected, North Macedonia reports farm outbreak
Italy now counts five wild boars infected with African swine fever(ASF), although unofficial reports mentioned 7 cases in the wild boar population. Since this first ASF diagnosis was reported on January 7 in Piedmont, others boars have been found in the area and the neighboring province of Liguria. Per an Italian news report, there are five cases and the number of municipalities in the infected area rose to 114 overall, 78 in Piedmont and 36 in Liguria. These were all included by the Ministry of Health in the ASF control zone as required by European Commission protocol.
The outbreak report posted by OIE on January 10 said, "Following the finding of a dead wild boar in northern Italy, the positivity for genotype 2 is reported, the same strain currently circulating in Europe, that characterizes the epidemic wave that began in 2007." Also on January 10, the European Commission said Italy will need to ensure that an infected zone for ASF is established immediately and also ensure that consignments of porcine animals kept in the areas listed as an infected zone in the Annex and products thereof are not authorized for movements to other Member States and to third countries. These restrictions currently apply until April 7.
Meantime, the virus was also found on a farm in North Macedonia, according to OIE and the occurrence is not connected to the case in Italy. Per OIE's report, clinical signs were noticed by the farmer on December 29 and dead cases were reported on January 1, in a small backyard farm located in the eastern part of the country. On January 5, blood samples, swabs and organs were submitted for analysis. Positive results for ASF were obtained January 6, via real-time PCR in the Laboratory of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Skopje. According to the epidemiological investigation, possible entrance of the disease was contact with wild boars. The Food and Veterinary Agency issued a decision on January 7, regarding protective and control measures, establishing protection zone of 3 kilometers and surveillance zone of 10 km with accompanying measures that will apply to holding zones. A stamping out policy was carried out among all pig holdings in the 3 km area on January 10.
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