France begs Olympic visitors not to bring in ASF

Since African Swine Fever (ASF) is coming ever closer to the borders of France, the department of agriculture in Paris has intensified its warnings to visitors and foreign workers by asking them to take every possible precaution to prevent the deadly disease from coming into the country.

All visitors and participants of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held in Paris starting July 26^th, are also recommended to be extra careful, especially when bringing in pork or pork products from ASF infected areas.

An increasing number of ASF cases is detected in wild boar in the north of Italy, in regions directly bordering France. In Germany, half a dozen new infections have been recently found near Frankfurt at just 100 kilometres from France, the department says. “ASF is not dangerous for humans but it is contagious and deadly for pigs and wild boar. An outbreak would have serious economic consequences for pig holders and the whole pig sector.”

The authorities therefore started a new communication campaign. It focuses on supporters, tourists and other people travelling to and from Germany but also other ASF infected countries. They are being asked not to bring pork products with them and also not to depose any food rests in nature but to put those in closed bins. That message is particularly targeted at international lorry drivers, foreign season workers in agriculture and horticulture and hikers.

Pig and pork transporters should always thoroughly clean and disinfect their vehicles after unloading. Furthermore, the department repeats its warning to hunters, hikers and pig farmers to report each suspicion of an infection with ASF to a vet or the relevant authorities as soon as possible. Every discovery of a dead wild boar should also be reported.

Tags: ASF, Germany, outbreak, wild boar, pork products, pork, France, African Swine Fever, Disease