According to the October Global Disease Monitoring Report, Namibia confirmed its first FMD outbreak since 1964, already affecting livestock trade and exports. In Türkiye, FMD serotype A was detected again near the Iraqi border, confirming that four FMD serotypes have circulated in the country in recent years.
Experts are particularly concerned about the situation in Cyprus, where FMD has spread to domestic pigs. SHIC Executive Director Lisa Becton noted that cases in pigs had not been reported in the country for a long time and stressed that FMD can have consequences for the pig sector that are no less serious than those caused by ASF.
ASF Continues to Spread in Finland
In Finland, ASF continues to spread among wild boar, although no cases have yet been detected in commercial pig production. According to Becton, once the virus becomes established in wild boar populations, controlling and eradicating the disease becomes significantly more difficult.
Meanwhile, Romania has confirmed an ASF outbreak on a commercial farm with 5,270 pigs — the first such case on a large farm in the country in nearly two years.
SHIC stresses that the spread of both diseases beyond their usual risk areas highlights the need to strengthen prevention and biosecurity.
US producers are advised to regularly review their biosecurity protocols, particularly following international travel, avoid using clothing and footwear on farms that may have been exposed to infected areas, and refrain from bringing meat products into the country from abroad.
Particular attention is also recommended for the origin of feed and feed ingredients, including vitamins and minerals, as well as advance preparedness for possible animal movement restrictions in the event of an incursion of transboundary diseases.
PigUA.info, based on materials from porkbusiness.com