The purpose of the fence is to reduce the risk of wild boar carrying the infection leaving the core area and spreading the infection further. It also reduces the risk of healthy wild boar entering the infected area.
– The wild boars that are still inside the fence will be allowed to die. If they are not already infected, they will be, says Helena Sixtensdotter, operations manager at the Swedish Agricultural Agency’s operational command center in Fagersta.
Cadaver searches inside the core area will therefore continue, but it is unclear to what extent it will be in the future.
Starting with the eastern edge
It is the Swedish Transport Administration, which, on behalf of the Swedish Agricultural Agency, takes care of the practical aspects of the set-up. On Wednesday, October 11, the fencing of the eastern edge of the core area began; from Ängelsberg, along the western side of lake Snyten, up towards Högfors by road 256.
The plan is for the entire area, of approximately 10,000 hectares, to be fully fenced by week 43. The work during these two weeks is now being done in stages, next up is the section from Högfors, along road 256, to Norberg.
Extensive hunting in the rest of the infected zone
In the rest of the infected zone, outside the fence, an extensive hunt for wild boar will now begin. The hunt will take place with the help of traps and with nocturnal hunting at culverts.
– We want to minimize the wild boar population, get rid of as many susceptible animals as possible so that they do not risk spreading the infection further, says Helena Sixtensdotter.
It is estimated that there are around 1,000 wild boars in the entire infected zone.
In the clip: Hear the Swedish Agricultural Agency’s operations manager explain why the fencing is being started in Ängelsberg.
What happens if swine fever is not stopped?