It has been just over a week since it was possible to confirm an outbreak of swine fever in the Fagersta area.
A restriction zone of just over 1,000 square kilometers has been established.
Within that zone, all domestic pigs must be killed – up to 120,000 animals.
– We are aware that this is deeply invasive, says Jan Cedervärn, director general at the Swedish Agricultural Agency.
The reason for the decision is that they want to avoid getting the infection into the domestic pig population.
“Hard restrictions”
A total of seven infected wild boars have been confirmed near Fagersta.
– As it looks today, we have a very limited area, but it can of course be larger. We have incredible help from local hunters, without them we would not have been able to do this, says state epizootologist Karl Ståhl.
The current outbreak of African swine fever in Sweden can have a major impact on pig farming throughout the country if it is not possible to limit the infection.
The farmers affected by the outbreak can receive compensation from the Swedish Agricultural Agency for losses.
– These are severe restrictions, but it is worth saying that they should be tightened so that it does not spread to a larger area, says Agriculture Minister Peter Kullgren.
The Minister of Agriculture: Seriously
On Monday, the Minister of Agriculture, among other things, met with the chairman of Sweden’s pig entrepreneurs and visited a farm in Sala.
– We take the situation very seriously and we have a great understanding of the concern it creates, says Peter Kullgren.
– I am here to listen in and get a picture of the situation, says Kullgren further.
At 4 p.m., the State Veterinary Institute (SVA) will present the latest figures regarding the infection situation.
Facts: Spread of African swine fever
In September 2023, the first case of African swine fever was confirmed in Sweden.
Since the first case in Europe in 2014, the disease has spread in the vicinity of Sweden.
It is now available in, for example, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Russia. The spread is also fast in Asia.
In some of the countries the disease occurs only in wild boar, but in most countries it is found in both domestic pigs and wild boar.
In both Belgium and the Czech Republic, outbreaks of African swine fever have been extinguished.
Source: Swedish Agency for Agriculture
The text is updated.