Vlajčić: Non-observance of security measures is the main cause of the spread of ASF

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, David Vlajčić, said on Monday that non-compliance with biosecurity measures is the main cause of the spread of African swine fever (ASF), and he announced increased inspections.

After a meeting with the crisis headquarters of Virovitica-Podravine County, David Vlajčić said that the eastern part of the county is one of the two hotspots of ASF this year and that the epidemiological situation is still serious.

“Experiences so far show that the human factor is responsible for almost every new disease outbreak, that is, failures in the implementation of biosecurity measures,” he said.

He announced that the veterinary inspection will intensify control of all pig farming farms in the threatened counties, while intervention teams of hunters, with the support of the police, will carry out intensified culling of wild boars in order to reduce the risk of the spread of infection.

He called on citizens to report the increased presence of wild boars or their unusual behavior, so that timely action could be taken.

He particularly warned about the danger of staying in forests, emphasizing that wild boars are the main reservoir of the virus.

“It is time for us to perhaps focus on something else in order to fulfill our recreational pleasures,” said Vlajčić.

He explained that dead wild boars infected with ASF are found in forests and that there is a high possibility of transmitting the virus on shoes, clothing or equipment of people returning from the forest to populated areas.

He also warned about the need to disinfect visitors to the Papuk Nature Park after leaving the forest area.

Source: HRT