After the first case of African swine fever in Piedmontin the Boldini farm in San Martino di Trecate (Novara), the emergency was arrangeddemolition of 600 pigs to prevent further spread of the disease. The specimens killed, with the culling operations that began on the afternoon of July 29, 2029, had been in total isolation for days, since the analysis of the samples collected by the operators of the ASL of Novara and processed at the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of the Marche and Umbria had found the presence of a case of African swine fever.
Swine fever in Piedmont, culling begins
After the detection of swine fever in theSan Martino di Trecate breeding farmthe decision of to break down all the 600 pigs present was taken from the crisis table of the ASL of Novara, where also the technicians of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Turin sit. This operation involves the use of techniques that save, as much as possible, the animal suffering through the use of anesthetists.
The intervention plan, after the operations of 29 July 2024, provides that epidemiological monitoring will also be extended to second breeding of the Boldini family located in Robecco sul Naviglio, in the Milan area. It is a much larger structure that would have approximately 7 thousand heads.
The Piedmont Region’s plan against swine fever
Going to the website of the Piemonte region it is possible to consult the progress of the defense procedures against the spread of swine fever and all the interventions implemented by the local administration. More specifically, “the pig districts of the territory become an organic part of the Regional Plan for Urgent Interventions (PRIU) and the area around them becomes operational with 15km radius“. In these areas, the slaughter of all wild boars present is planned, “with the total eradication of the species, to eliminate any possible risk of contagion”.
They are also indicated three districts which will be defended:
- the first is in the area of Novara around Trecate;
- the second in the Chierese;
- the third, the main one, in Municipalities of the Cuneo plain (Montanera, Savigliano, Piasco, Sant’Albano Stura, Costigliole Saluzzo, Margarita, Monasterolo di Savigliano, Ruffia, Vottignasco, Scarnafigi, Marene, Genola, Morozzo, Castelletto Stura, Villafalletto, Centallo, Fossano, Saluzzo, Tarantasca and Airasca). It is precisely here, it is recalled, that the greatest numerical relevance of heads was recorded.
The sanitary cordon to protect livestock
The resolution of the Piedmont Region was signed by the Councilor for Agriculture Paul Bongioanni in coordination with the Health Councillor Federico Riboldi. The first one underlined that “pig farming is one of the greatest riches of our primary sector and must be defended with exceptional measures“. “This measure – he added – allows us to deploy all available forces to completely eradicate the presence of wild boars around our districts and implement a real sterile sanitary cordon to defend our farms”.
The same councilor Bongioanni also provided the technical details of the demolition of wild boars, which will be carried out with the help of military. These, “once they have completed the appropriate training, will be able to work alongside the authorised hunters and will start their action from the areas of military property included in the parks of the provinces of Biella and Turin and then also be employed in the areas around the pig breeding districts”.
