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Now that the hunting season has officially opened, FAVV is calling on hunters to be extra vigilant for African swine fever (ASF). This summer, dozens of ASF cases were detected 200 kilometers from the Belgian border, near Frankfurt. Several cases have also been reported in Italy.
Hunters who come into contact with wild boars are urged to strictly observe hygiene measures. It is crucial not to take meat or products from wild boars from areas where ASF is present. A hunter may not enter a pig farm for 72 hours after contact with a living or dead wild boar. The disease is not only harmful to the wild boar population but also to pig farming in Belgium.
David Clarinval, Federal Minister of Agriculture: “In Belgium, ASF last appeared in 2018. No fewer than 29 third countries imposed restrictions on the trade of Belgian pork to their territory. As a result, around 70% of that export market in third countries disappeared. It took years of negotiations before most countries lifted their embargo. For example, it has only been possible to export Belgian pork to China again since the beginning of 2024. I would therefore like to ask our hunters to observe hygiene measures so as not to jeopardize the results of our work.”
November 14, 2024/ FAVV/ Belgium.
https://favv-afsca.be
