African swine fever: UK border protection campaign gets underway

01 Aug 2019 --- The UK government is ramping up its efforts to ensure the damaging animal disease African swine fever (ASF) is kept out of the country. The disease, which poses no threat to human health but is fatal for pigs, has already spread widely across Asia – including China and Vietnam – and parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Cases have also been reported throughout Sub Saharan Africa. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is launching a poster campaign warning holidaymakers of the risks around bringing contaminated pork products into Britain and is stepping up safeguards to protect the country’s pork and pig industries by targeting anyone who has the potential to introduce ASF to the UK.

ASF has led to the deaths of more than 800,000 pigs and wild boar in Europe and an estimated four million pigs in Asia, causing global pork prices to rise. The outbreak has also led to ASF-prevention measures being introduced in several countries. Earlier this month, the European Commission underscored the crucial importance of multi-sectoral cooperation to control ASF and prevent further spread across Europe. Extra vigilance and preparation are imperative, particularly “due to the peak of the disease during the summer season,'' it warns.

And now, as the summer holiday season begins, the UK government is strengthening its border controls.

“If the disease was found in this country, it could have a devastating impact on the UK’s commercial pig stock of five million pigs, as well as the trade of our pork products,” Defra warns. 

The main ways that the disease can spread include tourists or travelers bringing contaminated pork products with them from infected areas. All travelers are strongly advised to avoid bringing any pork products – including preserved meats, ham or pork sandwiches – back to the UK. “Bringing in potentially contaminated pork products from affected regions is an offense – it can result in prosecution and a large fine,” Defra says. 

Another way the disease can spread is pig keepers and members of the public feeding catering waste, kitchen scraps or pork products to their animals, which is illegal to do.

Travelers returning from ASF-affected areas coming into contact with domestic pigs, commercial holdings or smallholdings, also pose a risk and ASF can spread via contaminated clothing, footwear or equipment, as well as pork products.

Contaminated vehicles and equipment being taken onto commercial pig premises or workers wearing contaminated clothing or boots when entering pig premises, is another reason.

Defra stresses the new campaign aims to safeguard the UK’s pork and pig industries by targeting anyone who has the potential to introduce African swine fever to the UK. It includes a new poster campaign, which will be introduced to UK airports and ports throughout the summer, to raise awareness of the disease and the risks of bringing back contaminated products.

UK border officials enforce controls at the border on illegal meat by searching freight, passengers and luggage and will seize and destroy illegally imported meat products.

“While there has never been an outbreak of ASF in the UK, we are not complacent and already have robust measures in place to protect against animal disease outbreaks,” says Lord Gardiner, Minister for Biosecurity. “This poster campaign at UK airports and ports adds to the strict control measures we have put in place to ensure that no live pigs, wild boar or pork products from affected areas reach the UK.”

“It is essential all tourists and holidaymakers do not bring to the UK any pork products to protect the UK’s high biosecurity."

The Chief Veterinary Officers from the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland say the virus survives incredibly well in pork meat and can survive for months in smoked, dried and cured meats and likely years in frozen meat.

“We have always stressed that the biggest threat to our pig herd is from products coming in from affected countries, so this is an important step to help keep ASF from entering our country,” adds Dr. Zoë Davies, Chief Executive of the National Pig Association. “The Government has estimated that a ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’ ASF outbreak could cost the country £90 million (US$110 million). We believe the figure would be much higher and that is why we need to mobilize every available resource and effort to help prevent such a catastrophe.”

By Gaynor Selby