"Since 1978, when I have been dealing with swine fever, I have never found the situation as difficult as it is now; a disease is present in five continents and over 50 countries and continues to advance very quickly".
With these words, Professor Manuel Sanchez-Vizcaino Rodriguez, expert of the World Health Organization and director of the Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, took stock of the situation of the epidemic at an international level, during a hearing in Nell 'occasion, Sanchez-Vizcaino Rodriguez explained, about the virus that infects only domestic and wild pigs, with a high mortality rate, that the greatest danger - and first transmission channel - is given by the export of pork infected and that in Italy it is essential to understand how the PSA arrived in order to be able to control it and prevent it from continuing to arrive.
"The genetic sequencing of the virus has not yet been done in Italy - said Vizcaino Rodriguez - and it is even more important to know its origin, that is to know if it came from Europe, the EU or Asia and how by ship or by road. This is to avoid a second infection and make a rigorous surveillance program. "
According to the expert "the only possibility we have is the control of the disease which can be carried out on the basis of three single actions: early prevention before it spreads,
containment of the infected area and reduction of the wild boar population. It is also crucial that pig farms are not in infected areas. The expert then recalled the excellent work carried out for the eradication of the disease from the Czech Republic and Belgium from which Italy will be able to draw valuable information. As for the Psa vaccine, Vizcaino Rodrigue said that an EU project is underway "which is going well and can be commercialized in about 2 years".
(Unioneonline / lf)
