• The Alpes-Maritimes prefecture has just launched a "call for vigilance" after the diagnosis, in Italy, "less than 100 km from the border with France", of a case of African swine fever (ASF) on a Boar.

  • “We are very worried.

    Especially since we have not yet obtained any details concerning the possible compensation if we were to be impacted”, indicates a pig farmer from the Côte d'Azur.

While bird flu is already raging in the south-west of France, another epizootic threat is now hovering over the Alpes-Maritimes.

The prefecture has just launched a "call for vigilance" after the diagnosis, in Italy, "less than 100 km from the border with France", of a case of African swine fever (ASF) on a wild boar.

Deadly for animals, this disease is harmless for humans.

But “its introduction could have serious socio-economic and health consequences for the professional sectors concerned”, alert the State services in the department and the Ministry of Agriculture.

On the Côte d'Azur, around twenty pig farms have been identified.

And, in total, around sixty farms currently hold at least one pig, according to the Chamber of Agriculture of the department.

"And according to the information we have had, it seems inevitable that we will be affected," says Frédéric Foncel, who raises free-range black pigs with his wife Isabelle, but also sheep and goats in organic farming, in the sector of Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, near Grasse.

Transmitted by wild boars

African swine fever, which settled in the eastern part of Germany after affecting Belgium in 2018, can be transmitted during direct or indirect contact between farms and infected wild boars.

“And wild boars, there are around us, continues Frédéric Foncel.

The hunters in the area have just killed nearly a hundred in recent days.

Our animals evolve in the open air.

We already have fences with indoor and outdoor electrification and biosecurity means.

But we are still very worried.

Especially since we have not yet obtained any details concerning possible compensation if we were to be impacted.

»

“Take the situation seriously”

The players in the sector try above all not to come to this.

“We are setting up farm audits to assess the risks in connection with the Sanitary Defense Groups [GDS], explains Michel Dessus, the president of the local Chamber of Agriculture.

We will train people, correct what needs to be corrected, but in the meantime, we must not create panic.

Just take the situation seriously.

»

In addition to the recommendations made to breeders (avoid contact with wild animals, declare sick animals, etc.), the Ministry of Agriculture also warns hunters and travellers.

If the former are invited to “quickly report any dead boar”, the latter are asked “to avoid bringing back meat or products made from pigs or wild boars” from a country infected with ASF.

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