Mushrooms, autumn leaves and pork cholera September 19 20:56
Mushroom hunting and fall foliage hunting for the coming season. It is related to the swine cholera that is now a problem. The spread of infection seems to be at a stage where we cannot be indifferent. (Reporter, Network Press Yoko Idegami Naoya Saito)
Care must be taken when entering the mountain
The other day, several posts on SNS attracted attention.
In Nagano Prefecture, where infection with swine cholera has been confirmed, it is necessary to be careful when entering a mountain by mushroom hunting or autumnal leaf hunting, or "Let's weight yourself".
The answer to how autumn joy and porcine cholera relate is on the homepage of Nagano Prefecture.
Viruses mixed with wild boar dung infected with swine cholera can be transported by soil, etc. After entering the mountain, we appeal to remove the soil attached to shoes and clothes well.
Torn defense line
The swine cholera, infection spread does not stop.
Porcine cholera does not infect humans, and eating infected pork meat and internal organs has no effect on humans.
However, infected pigs present symptoms such as high fever and diarrhea and often die within a few days, which is a big threat to pig farmers.
In September last year, the infection of swine cholera, which was confirmed at a farm in Gifu City, had spread to seven prefectures, including Chubu and Kansai, by July.
In response to this, a so-called “defense line” was set up to increase the number of traps and strengthen gun hunting to surround the Chubu region to contain the spread of wild boar viruses.
However, on September 13th, infection was confirmed at a farm in Saitama Prefecture that crossed this line of defense, and the disease spread to eight prefectures.
In addition, not only wild animals but also people and vehicles who stepped on wild boar or touched wild grass with boar saliva were suspected as infection routes.
Call for disinfection in a bicycle race
In Nagano Prefecture, which is surrounded by mountains, there is a widespread movement to call attention to those who enter the mountains at leisure.
One of the best mountain bike races in Japan, held on September 15th in Otaki Village, Nagano Prefecture. Since wild boar infection was confirmed locally, unusual measures were taken at the venue.
Bicycle disinfection mats were placed near the goal, and there was a disinfection area in the parking lot near the venue that sprayed disinfection sprays on bicycle tires and shoe soles of participants.
In addition, in the prefecture where the mushroom hunting season has started, efforts are made to call people around the mountain by car and attention is paid, and Kashiwagi Village distributes slaked lime to those who own the mountain Attempts were also made.
“When I enter the mountains, I want them to be aware of the hog cholera. After entering the mountains, I'd like them to drop soil and mud well about shoes and clothes.” (Nagano Prefecture representative)
Chiba pig farmer suffering
What is struggling with the spread of infection is the pig farmer in Chiba Prefecture, which ranks 4th in the country, with more than 610,000 pigs.
In Chiba Prefecture, the power outage caused by typhoon No. 15 has been prolonged, and there are cases where pigs die due to inability to ventilate and supply water.
According to the Nice Pork Ciba Promotion Council made by producers, each farm is full of urgency to understand and recover from damage caused by typhoons.
Although we want to hurry up the installation of fences to prevent the invasion of wild boars, the current situation is that they have not turned around.
In addition, there are cases where construction vehicles go in and out of multiple farms to repair buildings, and it is also an issue to thoroughly disinfect people and cars entering the farm.
“Vaccination”
Under these circumstances, pig farmers are seeking vaccination.
“Since the infection was confirmed in Kanto, there is a very strong sense of crisis in swine cholera, but there are some farmers who have been out of power due to the typhoon damage. I would like to request vaccination early ”(Nice spoke Ciba Promotion Council Secretariat Shinzo Kato)
However, the country is cautious about vaccination.
This is because the swine cholera vaccine is said to be effective, but its use may adversely affect exports and distribution.
The country has begun studying the administration of vaccines following the confirmation of infection in Saitama Prefecture, but according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, it wants to inform the parties concerned about the merits and demerits of vaccine administration and gather opinions.
What we can do
I asked Yoko Hayakawa, a veterinarian working mainly in Chiba Prefecture, if we could do anything to prevent swine cholera.
“I do n’t want to go wild where wild animals such as wild boar are coming in the autumn season, and do n’t throw away the rest of the bento in the mountains when you go to a picnic.”
According to Mr. Hayakawa, if you leave uneaten lunch boxes or the like in the mountains, you may attract wild boars that ask for food and bring the swine cholera virus closer to the area where humans live.
On top of that, Mr. Hayakawa points out that we understand that pig cholera accurately helps pig farmers.
"There has been a reputational damage such as refraining from buying pork in areas where infection has been confirmed, but since infected meat does not circulate and humans eat it does not affect health, there is no grounds at all, so very sorry The producers are desperate and continue to produce while protecting the farm, so be sure to eat and support domestic pork. ''
We feel that it is necessary not only for pig-related people but also for us to carefully observe the whereabouts of how to protect the production and stable supply of delicious pork.