The European Union on Monday told
Italy to establish an infected zone for African swine fever in
areas of Rome and implement special control measures to stop it
spreading.
It said Italy must "ensure that consignments of porcine animals
kept in the areas listed as an infected zone... and products
thereof are not authorised for movements to other Member States
and to third countries".
Health Undersecretary Andrea Costa has said that the government
is finalizing a plan to cull wild boar, after several cases of
swine fever were detected in Rome and with the animals becoming
increasingly brazen about their encroachments into residential
areas as they forage, especially in the capital.
The undersecretary said the plan was being prepared by the
health ministry and environmental-protection institute ISPRA
together with the regions affected by the swine-fever outbreak,
Liguria, Piedmont and Lazio.
The Rome cases, which rose to six Friday, are the first outside
the area of the original outbreak in Liguria and Piedmont.
African swine fever is a highly contagious and deadly viral
disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages.
ASF is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted
from pigs to humans.
It is not a food safety issue. ASF is found in countries around
the world.
The authorities said two more cases were found in Liguria on
Monday, taking the total for that region and Piedmont up to 119.
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