66 cases of ASF reported in Italy

Two months after the first outbreak of ASF in Italy, 66 cases were reported in two regions: Piedmont (38 cases) and Liguria (28 cases). So far, the disease has only been found in the wild boar population, but local authorities are preparing new measures to stop the spread of the virus.

Piedmont Region President Alberto Sirio approved this week an order with new urgent and concrete measures to reduce wild boar populations, monitor the presence of ASF and ensure biosecurity in the infected zone, the active surveillance zone, the nearest free zone and the distal free zone.

As an exception by law, selection hunting for wild boar can also be carried out at night, provided that night vision devices are used to facilitate the selection of identified animals.

The measure is valid throughout the region and expires on June 30. In the zone of infection and in the zone of active surveillance, the application of measures is a priority and urgent, and depopulation measures must be carried out immediately and with the maximum possible intensity within three months after the entry into force of the order.

Similar measures have been taken in the past by Poland, Romania and Germany, and the main result has been the migration of wild boars to regions where the herds feel safe. Italy and North Macedonia were the last European countries to report outbreaks of ASF, but the disease is also present in Poland, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Belarus and RUSSIA. The Czech Republic and Belgium were the first countries to regain their ASF-free status, according to the OIE.