Prevent African Swine Fever from travelling home with you

How likely is it that the ASF virus travels with us while on holiday abroad?

“In recent years, the virus has made large geographical jumps. For example, during the outbreak in wild boars in Belgium in 2018 and in domestic pigs in Germany near the border with the Netherlands in 2022. Last year, the virus was found in wild boars in Sweden and recently the virus made a large jump in Germany. Such large jumps cannot be predicted and are most likely caused by human activity. Pork and contaminated food waste can spread the African swine fever virus. It is therefore very important that travellers, especially those going to a country where ASF is present, avoid contributing to its spread.”

By what route can the virus enter our country?

“If ASF-infected pork or contaminated products end up in nature, they can be eaten by wild boars. These animals can thus become infected. We therefore urge everyone not to bring such food from abroad. If people do bring food home, they have to make sure that they dispose of leftovers in properly sealed waste bins, so that wild boars (and pigs) can not come into contact with it.

Furthermore, it is important not to feed pigs or wild boars, not even at the petting zoo. It is also important to clean the shoes you wear in nature thoroughly before returning home. Also, since you can also carry the African swine fever virus under your shoes, those shoes should not be worn when visiting a pig farm or petting zoo. Not only shoes, but also other materials can contribute to virus spread, such as contaminated materials from hunters. So when thinking about preventing ASF virus introduction, it is important to not only consider food items.”

What happens if ASF is found?

“An ASF outbreak in a previously ASF free country has major consequences, economically, socially and societally. The measures imposed by the EU and nationally are described in preparedness plans.

ASF is a notifiable disease and immediate eradication measures must be taken as soon as it is detected, these include culling pigs on an infected farm and establishing protection and surveillance zones. A standstill - a ban on animal movements involving cloven-hoofed animals, horses, poultry and products from and for these animals - is also among the measures that can be part of the action plan.”

Is there a vaccine against ASF?

“No, there is no vaccine against ASF yet. This is partly because the ASF virus is a large virus and a lot is still not known about it. For example, it is far from known exactly what function all the genes have, and how they contribute to the pathogenic effect. There are also many open questions in the immunological field. A lot of research is currently being done and several (EU) projects are working on vaccines for domestic pigs and wild boars.”

What is WBVR's role in ASF diagnostics and research?

“WBVR is involved in ASF diagnostics and monitoring programmes as parts of its statutory tasks (WOT). Commissioned by the Dutch ministry of Agriculture, Fishery, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) and in collaboration with the Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority (NVWA) and sector organisations, WBVR, Royal GD, KNMvD, CPD and POV jointly created a practical factsheet on ASF diagnostics. This also provides information on the available tools for rapid detection of a possible outbreak.

In addition, WBVR is a partner in several national and international research projects aimed at gaining more knowledge and insights into the ASF virus, its spread, diagnostics, prevention and control.”