UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs raised the risk rating of ASF after new cases were found
Defra announced that the risk level rating will raise from 'very low' to 'low'. The authorities are very concerned with the situation in The Czech Republic, where there have been spotted 76 ASF cases in wild boar, which could mean that the disease is spreading, and the situation in Poland, where the Polish authorities reported 29 outbreaks this year in domestic pigs. In addition, in the last two weeks, in Poland, four of the outbreaks have been in an area where cases should only be seen in wild boar, not domestic pigs.
Defra raised the threat level because it considers that the Czech and Polish standards have lapsed as they should be operating on increased surveillance, good biosecurity, and heightened awareness. "It is thought that the requirements relating to back yard pig ownership have been relaxed which has allowed the disease to spread into areas that it is not expected. It is for these reasons that Defra has raised the threat level."
The British authorities plan to start phase two of their communication plan to remind all pig keepers the penalties involved if found feeding kitchen scraps and to warn anyone travelling to affected areas of the contamination risk. "This will also involve cross industry action to communicate these serious messages to all types of pig keeper – from small holder to larger commercial businesses in an attempt to reduce the risk of the disease reaching these shores," according to the press release.
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