Poland’s Internal Security Agency has warned farmers to be on high alert for sabotage following a mysterious outbreak of the deadly African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs.
Suspicions were first raised in June when a wild boar was found dead by the side of a road in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province, in the mid-north of the country.
Showing no signs of external injuries, the animal was sent for testing, where it was found to have died of ASF and had come from either the Wielkopolska or Lubuskie provinces, 170–315 km away.
Piotr Hemmerling, deputy governor of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, told Polsat News at the time that there were “numerous suspicions about the unnaturalness of this situation.”
Kujawsko-Pomorskie is considered a leader in pig breeding, with farmers owning around one million animals.
With many breeders making their living from only selling meat, it raised fears that the ASF-infected boar had been deliberately dumped nearby.
Suspicions have since deepened following a spate of unexplained outbreaks in pig farms and similar cases of wild boar being found dead by roadsides.
The beginning of August saw two outbreaks of the disease near the region’s small town of Chełmno, which affected over 160 pigs.
Another 15 were also infected in the nearby town of Brzozowo, prompting the ABW to release its warning for locals to be extra vigilant and report signs of sabotage.
Subsequently, on August 14, three dead wild boars were found lying by a road close to the town of Gniezno, 140 km away.
Their carcasses are now being tested for any signs of ASF.
Restrictions on the movement of animals and animal products have since been introduced, with officials calling on farmers to follow biosecurity rules.
Deputy governor Hemmerling said: “At this stage, the situation is under control, and all activities that should have been carried out at the level of the inspectorate and the region have been implemented.”
He added: “Farmers' lives and incomes are linked to the proper functioning of farms.
“It is in the common interest to take all necessary measures to block the spread and emergence of ASF.”
Showing no signs of external injuries, the animal was sent for testing, where it was found to have died of ASF and had come from either the Wielkopolska or Lubuskie provinces, 170–315 km away.
Piotr Hemmerling, deputy governor of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, told Polsat News at the time that there were “numerous suspicions about the unnaturalness of this situation.”
Kujawsko-Pomorskie is considered a leader in pig breeding, with farmers owning around one million animals.
With many breeders making their living from only selling meat, it raised fears that the ASF-infected boar had been deliberately dumped nearby.
Suspicions have since deepened following a spate of unexplained outbreaks in pig farms and similar cases of wild boar being found dead by roadsides.
The beginning of August saw two outbreaks of the disease near the region’s small town of Chełmno, which affected over 160 pigs.
Another 15 were also infected in the nearby town of Brzozowo, prompting the ABW to release its warning for locals to be extra vigilant and report signs of sabotage.
Subsequently, on August 14, three dead wild boars were found lying by a road close to the town of Gniezno, 140 km away.
Their carcasses are now being tested for any signs of ASF.
Restrictions on the movement of animals and animal products have since been introduced, with officials calling on farmers to follow biosecurity rules.
Deputy governor Hemmerling said: “At this stage, the situation is under control, and all activities that should have been carried out at the level of the inspectorate and the region have been implemented.”
He added: “Farmers' lives and incomes are linked to the proper functioning of farms.
“It is in the common interest to take all necessary measures to block the spread and emergence of ASF.”
Source: wprost/gov.pl
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