The deadly swine fever virus is rapidly spreading in Italy, endangering the country’s iconic pork industry and celebrated prosciutto. The problem is serious for the farmer and, hence the economy itself as on one side government is trying to contain the outbreak and disease control strategy remains instrumental in combating such epidemic at this grass route level critically important sector.
Swine Fever: The Devastation
Italy has been plagued by the swine fever virus, causing the pork industry to plummet across much of the country. The outbreak has already led pig farmer Alberto Cavagnini to slaughter 1,600 of his hogs and some 50,000 to 60,000 pigs were culled in Italy last year.
The implications of the deadly disease for the UK pig industry are catastrophic. The pork sector has an annual turnover of 20 billion euros and sustain 100,000 jobs in Italy. Swine fever has spread especially in the northern regions of Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria, where France is reportedly growing wary.
The outbreak so far has been devastating for many farmers. Cavagnini adds that although he has some buffer because of the multiple farms he owns, a lot of breeders only have one farm meaning they would lose all their livestock should the virus come down. Government compensation will not cover all of the estimated hundred millions in losses and with no way for farmers to recoup their losses.
Organizing A National Reply
Faced with this crisis, the Italian government has been trying to develop a more coordinated and efficient strategy for Disease Control. A group of EU experts that visited the country in July said one of the problems Greek authorities face is that there are a myriad different regions and each one is doing its own thing.
In turn, the government has hired a special commissioner, Giovanni Filippini, to enforce a common standard. These ban pig movement within affected and surveillance areas other than to slaughterhouses, restrict farm premises access to the absolute minimum number of committed staff only.
The government is also working to establish zones where wild boars, which are both affected by the virus and can transmit it themselves, should not move. This initiative is the responsibility of Francesco Feliziani from the National Reference Center for Swine Fever (CEREP).
In addition to this effort, Italy and France have also created a joint technical group aimed at enhancing cross-border cooperation in the management of an infection that is seen as a serious threat to both countries.
Conclusion
Swine fever is an extremely important battle in Italy not only because the fateful crisis for the national pork chain, but also economic, social and potentially even bureaucratic. Government initiatives to more collaboratively manage and control disease means that there is increasing hope that the crisis will eventually be resolved and future sustainability for industry maintained. But it is not all roses, and sustained surveillance and support from both the government and those in agriculture will be key to saving this ‘factory floor’ of nature.
