News article, 30. September 2021

Denmark works hard to protect against African Swine Fever

Danish pig production is not only important for exports. More importantly, it also impacts individual farmers who are directly dependent on their production.

African Swine Fever, therefore, continues to pose a great risk to Denmark and everything possible is being done to ensure that the infection stays out of the country. The disease is fatal for pigs and no treatment has yet been found.

"Both wild boar and domestic pigs die from the disease and it’s highly contagious,” says Jens Munk Ebbesen, Director of Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs, Danish Agriculture and Food Council.

DANISH approved washing halls ensure that incoming livestock transport is hygiene controlled

Crucial measures continue to be employed to ensure that the infection does not enter Denmark. One of the most important tools in the fight against the disease are the checks imposed on incoming livestock transport at the Danish-German border at one of the three DANISH-approved washing halls, which ensure that livestock transport is always thoroughly washed and disinfected when arriving in Denmark.

Asger Kjær Nielsen, Quality Manager, DANISH, explains: "The risk of unwanted infection being brought in by a single vehicle is slight. But due to the fact that Denmark is a rather large pig exporting country, we have many livestock transporters every year. Up to 28,000 vehicles return to Denmark every year to collect pigs for live export. The sheer number of vehicles, therefore, constitutes a risk and it’s important that we carry out these controls along with additional washing and disinfection.”

Wild boar fencing at the Danish-German border to reduce the risk of wild boar in Denmark

Another highly effective tool in the battle against African Swine Fever is the 70 km fence at the Danish-German border to keep wild boar out of Denmark. Strict procedures are in force if wild boar should succeed in getting into Denmark: they are immediately tracked down and shot to eradicate the risk of infection.

A number of campaigns in Denmark and abroad also clearly set out what individuals should be aware of.

NO WILD BOAR WITHIN THE DANISH BORDER

Controlling wild boar remains a key measure in protecting against African Swine Fever. There is currently no knowledge of wild boar north of the Danish border, which means that the wild boar fencing has been effective in this respect.

Read the leaflet on: Danish Preventive Measures Against ASF - African Swine Fever