Pig Health Issues of Concern in Western Europe

1.Classical Swine Fever (CSF). CSF is endemic in parts of Germany (Lower Saxony) and Italy as it is established in the wild boar populations. This causes recurring infections and new outbreaks in high-risk areas. The strains are generally considered to be mild with slow spread. Currently farmers are not permitted to move pigs within the infected area of Lower Saxony and there is a ban on exportation of pigs from Germany. This causes problems for farmers in general and for breeding companies. There are also differences in interpretation of the regulations between countries and this can cause confusion. There is concern over the possible extension of CSF into currently unaffected areas and neighbouring countries. The acquisition of new EU member states is another concern for control of notifiable diseases, for example, both CSF and rabies are endemic in the Baltic countries. The robustness of disease control policies and laboratory testing facilities in the new member states have been under scrutiny. The EU has invested considerable sums of money to support improvements in veterinary disease surveillance and laboratory diagnosis. Some of the new member states border with countries where observance of notifiable disease control measures is poor, such as Turkey. The wild boar population growing in many European countries. They are used for hunting in some countries but not in others. Generally there is a decline in the popularity of hunting wild boar and this has allowed numbers to increase. There are difficulties with control of notifiable diseases once in the wild boar population. There is also mixing of wild boar with domestic pigs in outdoor production systems. The wild boar are attracted to available feed and also gilts in season. Any pigs in the wild (wild boar or escaped domestic pigs) are very difficult to control as they escape into wooded areas and become elusive. There is public objection to large-scale measures for controlling wild pigs. However, the pig industry in the UK is concerned over the possible loss of the national Trichinella-free derogation.