Avoid spreading African swine fever to pigs and wild boar!

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious and deadly viral disease that affects pigs and wild boar. Except for the suffering of animals, it may cause severe economic losses for the pig producers.

Lately, the disease has spread from the east through Europe and is present in for example Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Rumania, Hungary and Belgium, as well as in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

African swine fever is spread via direct contact between animals, but also via the blood and other body fluids from infected pigs and wild boar. Meat from infected animals also contains the virus and may spread ASF unless heat treated. The ASF virus is very resistant and may survive for a relatively long time in meat from infected animals even if the meat is frozen. If left-overs containing the virus are given to pigs or left in nature where wild boar may consume them, the animals may become infected. This is one of the ways the disease may spread to new areas.

The European Food Safety Authority has a practical guide on African swine fever; what it is and how to protect domestic pigs from infection:

How to avoid spreading African swine fever

• Do not bring meat or meat products from pigs or wild boar from countries where ASF is present.
• Do not feed left-overs to pigs or wild boar.
• Do not leave left-overs in the nature or at rest areas along the roads. Use rubbish bins.

If you are visiting a pig holding in Sweden

• Do not visit a Swedish pig holding within 48 hrs after visiting a pig holding outside Sweden.
• Use protecting clothes that the holding provides.

If you are a hunter

• If you have hunted in a country where ASF is present, clean your hunting equipment, your clothes and your boots from all visible dirt and blood before using them in Sweden.
• Do not visit a Swedish pig holding within 48 hrs after hunting in a country where ASF is present.
• If you bring a dog, which has hunted in an affected country, you should wash its coat before bringing it to Sweden.
• Meat and untreated hunting trophies from wild boar may spread the disease and are not to be left where pigs or wild boar may come in contact with them.

Report suspected ASF cases

• A suspected case of ASF in pigs must immediately be reported to a veterinarian.
• All findings of dead wild boar must be reported to the National Veterinary Institute by calling +46-18-67 40 00.