On Friday 14 September, Belgium confirmed that two wild boar have been identified as carrying the African swine fever virus in the municipality of Étalle (province of Luxembourg).
“The disease does not affect humans”, the Belgian authorities have reiterated, following the announcement of measures to prevent a spread of the virus among wildlife and into pig farms. There have been no recorded cases of the disease in pig farms in Belgium.
These cases in Belgium have prompted the French Ministry for Agriculture to call for immediate mobilisation to protect farms. A reinforced action plan against African swine fever has been launched in the French departments bordering Belgium (Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse and Ardennes).
Romania has identified more than 780 outbreaks in recent months and the disease also has a presence in Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Bulgaria (the Czech Republic recently eradicated it).
African swine fever is a contagious viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar, but which never spreads to humans. There is currently no treatment or vaccination. Strict prevention and control measures are set out at European and national level. Implementing decision 2014/709/EU of the Commission establishes animal health measures to tackle African swine fever. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)