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African Swine Fever reaching “pandemic proportions”

Officials are concerned about a possible pandemic as African Swine Fever spreads into Belgium.

Swine Health Information Center executive director Dr. Paul Sundberg says the disease has been confirmed in two wild boars near the French border, and it appears ASF has jumped a considerable distance from previously affected countries including Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania.

African Swine Fever continues to spread across Eastern Europe, transmitted primarily by wild boars.  The disease is also active in Africa, Russia, and China.

Sundberg says it would seem the outbreak has reached pandemic proportions, and he encourages pork producers to adhere to strict biosecurity protocols.

Belgium is the world’s eighth-largest pork exporter.