The European Food Safety Authority has announced a campaign to raise awareness of African swine fever (ASF), which it says Albania is at risk of.
The disease affects domestic and wild pigs, and while it’s harmless to humans, it’s deadly to infected swine. In addition to this, it can have serious socioeconomic consequences for those countries and communities that are affected. In recent years, the virus has spread across Europe and with no vaccine or cure available, it’s important to prevent outbreaks.
Currently, the only way to control an outbreak is the mass-slaughter of infected animals, those at risk, or those that come into contact with the infection. This helps to prevent the spread of the disease to other regions. The EFSA said that early detection, prevention, and reporting are essential to controlling the epidemic.
In the last four years, some 1.3 million pigs were lost to ASF in Europe.
Current areas of concern include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.
The campaign – explains EFSA – intends to support the measures in place at the Europ
13ean Commission and other international organizations to eradicate the disease from Europe. It aims to increase knowledge and understanding of PSA in all nine countries. It is aimed at groups of people and individuals who are often in contact with domestic pigs and wild boars, such as pig farmers and hunters. With the campaign, EFSA also wants to reach veterinary organizations, hunting associations, various groups of breeders, customs officials, border police, local governments, tour operators and travellers.
The Albanian authorities didn’t contribute their numbers to an EU report on the spread of ASF and other diseases in the country.
