Portugal finds No Cause for Alarm as african Swineโ Fever Outbreak Emerges in Spain
Lisbon – Portuguese authorities have determined that additionalโ safety โmeasures are not justified following the recent detectionโฃ of โAfrican swineโข fever โฃin Catalonia, Spain. The General directorate of Food adn Veterinary affairs (DGAV)โข stated yesterday that current surveillance protocols are sufficientโข to protect Portugal’s pig โฃpopulationโฃ and ensure food safety.
The DGAV is activelyโข monitoring โคtrade in pork products between Portugal and Catalonia, but hasโ not identified any cases โwithin its borders. โ”There is no reason to worry about โthe analysis we carried out,” explained Susana Pombo, indicating that checks are beingโ conducted approximately three weeks after the initial โoutbreak report, accounting for the disease’s incubation period of upโฃ to 20 days.
The DGAV has reiterated existing โadvice toโ farms, emphasizing compliance โwith safety measures, vehicle cleaning and disinfection, and responsible hunting practices. The disposal of animal by-products must also adhere to regulations,with โa strict prohibition โขon feedingโ pigs kitchen or table waste.
while a 20-kilometer radius has been โคestablished around the outbreak areaโ in โขCerdanyola del Vallรฉs, โSpain,โ with hunting suspended and over 200 personnel deployed for decontamination, Portuguese officials maintain a confident stance. Spanish โMinisterโ of โฃAgriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis โPlanas, anticipates further cases among wild boars in theโฃ affected region.
It โขis โฃsignificant to note that โAfricanโ swine fever dose โขnot pose a risk to human health,but is highly contagious and perhaps fatal to โwild boars and domesticโ pigs. The origin of the Spanish outbreak remains under investigation.