African swine fever is posing a serious threat to Italy’s pork industry, which is worth €20 billion and renowned for producing prosciutto and cured sausages.
The disease, which emerged in Italy in January 2022, has led to the culling of nearly 120,000 pigs, with the majority occurring in the past two months as the crisis escalates.
Farmer Giovanni Airoli, whose farm south of Milan, saw all 6,200 pigs on his property slaughtered after one of his sows tested positive for the disease in August. “It’s a desolation,” Airoli said, explaining how strict protocols have been enforced to prevent further spread. Despite following all safety measures, he remarked, “We don’t understand what went wrong.”
The outbreak has been particularly severe in Lombardy, with 24 cases recorded in early September. The infected zone spans around 1,740 square miles and includes the nearby regions of Piedmont and Emilia Romagna, the latter famous for its prized Parma ham. Wild boars have also contributed to the spread, creating further challenges for farmers in a wider 8,880-square-mile area.
African swine fever does not affect humans
African swine fever is nearly always fatal to pigs but does not affect humans. The economic impact is significant, with Coldiretti, the agricultural lobby group, estimating damages at €500 million (£416 million) so far. The situation has been exacerbated by import bans from 12 countries, including China, Taiwan, and Mexico, halting the export of Italian pork delicacies such as prosciutto crudo. Japan, South Korea, and four other nations have also limited imports.
In response, the Italian government appointed Giovanni Filippini as a special commissioner to manage the crisis. Filippini, a veterinarian with experience in eradicating swine fever in Sardinia, has introduced stricter controls on farm access and animal transfers. These measures appear to be having an effect, with only one new outbreak in Lombardy reported during the last week of September. However, officials remain cautious. Giovanni Loris Alborali, director of the animal health institute for Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, said, “It is a positive sign, but not yet a victory.”
As the fight against the disease continues, farmers are hopeful that strict sanitation protocols will help protect their livestock and reduce the need for antibiotics in the future.
