Categories: World

Italy culls more than 30,000 pigs to counter spread of swine fever

close Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for September 20

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com.

Almost 34,000 pigs at 12 farms in the northern Italian region of Lombardy have been culled to counter the spread of African swine fever (ASF), a spokesperson for the region said on Wednesday.

Lombardy is the Italian region with the largest number of bred pigs. The outbreak appears to mark an intensification of a wave of the disease first detected in Italy in 2022.

“In Lombardy there are half of the pigs bred in Italy, around 5 million out of a total of 10 million Italian pigs,” the regional government spokesperson said.

VACCINE SPRAY MAY NOT WORK FOR SWINE FLU IN KIDS

A pig is seen in Italy. On Wednesday, a spokesperson said Lombardy, Italy, culled almost 34,000 pigs to prevent the spread of African swine fever.  (BlueRed/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Our objective is to extinguish this outbreak .. so that the problem does not become a danger for the supply chain of the entire Italian sector,” the spokesperson said, adding that the risk of a further spread seems to have been averted for now.

African swine fever is harmless to humans but often fatal to pigs, leading to financial losses for farmers. It originated in Africa before spreading to Europe and Asia and has killed hundreds of millions of pigs worldwide.

Since 2022, African swine fever in Italy has mainly hit wild boars, with a few isolated cases in pigs, said Francesco Feliziani, head of the National Centre for Swine Flu.

Share

Recent Posts

Trump names several new White House picks to work on AI, crypto and more: ‘America First Patriots’

President-elect Donald Trump unleashed a slew of nominations on Sunday night, naming several new people…

6 minutes ago

Trump nominates Callista Gingrich as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, announces other picks

President-elect Trump on Sunday named Callista Gingrich, wife to former Speaker of the House Newt…

6 minutes ago

China warns US to stop arming Taiwan after Biden approves $571M in military aid

China has warned the U.S. that it is making "dangerous moves" by providing Taiwan with…

7 minutes ago

NYPD arrests migrant who allegedly set woman on fire on subway train, watched her burn to death

close Video Tyrus 'could not be prouder' of NYC mayor after meeting with incoming 'border…

2 hours ago

Prankster arrested after reportedly filming himself spraying food at Walmart: ‘Reckless’

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for December 22 Fox News Flash top headlines…

4 hours ago

Woman dies after being set on fire while sleeping on NYC subway train: police

close Video Tyrus 'could not be prouder' of NYC mayor after meeting with incoming 'border…

4 hours ago