The French army will help kill some 500 wild boars at risk of being infected by African swine fever, said Friday the Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume on the move in the Belgian Ardennes, where 200 to 300 wild boars were infected.
The outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), detected on January 9 on two wild boars in Belgium, threatens France and its pig farms. Didier Guillaume, French Minister of Agriculture, had promised “maximum mobilisation to proceed very quickly depopulation of wild boars in this area . “
Promise held. To avoid the arrival of African swine fever (this disease, not transmissible to humans, cause very significant damage in pig farms) by the Belgian border, “the army will be mobilised,” said the minister who makes this Friday in the Belgian Ardennes, where 200 to 300 wild boars have been infected.
How can the army help?
“If the army is necessary, let us put the army” , was immediately congratulated on France Info Christiane Lambert, the president of the FNSEA. “I think that the army with sufficient means in number would give the opportunity to really eradicate. We are not going to spend a month looking for wild boars, “ she added.
At the Ministry of the Armed Forces, a “logistical contest” is confirmed . According to the spokesman of the Armed Forces Staff, Colonel Steiger, “the military units will act first and foremost in support of the health authorities, notably by transporting large traps. Military trucks can carry large volumes on rough terrain, which is needed for operations in the area. ”
Units stationed near the Ardennes will also provide touts. These soldiers, in particular from the 1st regiment of voluntary military service of Montigny-lès-Metz (and not the 16th battalion of foot hunters of Bitche, as suggested by jokers) “could be engaged from next Thursday”.
The announcement of a military contribution to this “operation” has something to smile about, as evidenced by messages on Twitter.
Peste porcine : "S'il faut l'armée, mettons l'armée" pour "éradiquer" les sangliers à risque, demande présidente de la FNSEAhttps://t.co/h6cO7kK7lm pic.twitter.com/y10cio7Yn2
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) 25 January 2019
A real threat on farms
The establishment of a white area, emptied of its wild boars, is intended to prevent a spread of the epidemic. The virus can have strong economic repercussions for pig farmers who will be forced, in case of contamination, to slaughter all their pigs.
To control the disease in countries that have detected one or more outbreaks on their territory, measures range from zoning, compartmentalisation and movement control to slaughter of animals with proper disposal of carcasses and other wastes, followed by thorough cleaning and disinfection of the facilities.
Due to the lack of vaccine or treatment for this viral disease, prevention is essential to limit its spread. Imports must be monitored to ensure the absence of infected pigs (domestic or wild) or products from infected areas.
Prevention also includes the proper disposal of food waste collected from aircraft, boats or vehicles from infected countries, as well as the control of the illegal importation of live pigs or products derived from them. same countries.
