The Administration of Veterinary Services of Luxembourg's Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection has announced that, following the detection of African swine fever (ASF) virus in wild boars in Belgium, specifically in the municipality of Étalle in the province of Luxembourg, the contamination of wild boar and pigs in the Grand Duchy cannot be excluded.
The ASF virus affects domestic boars and pigs but does not pose a risk to humans even if they eat contaminated meat or meat products.
The virus spreads directly through contact between animals as well as indirectly via food waste containing pork. Therefore they must be removed so that any contact with a boar or pig is avoided.
There is currently no vaccine against this disease and all those involved are asked to exercise vigilance and surveillance to minimise the spread of the disease in the wild boar population as well as the risk of disease by the introduction of the virus into pigs which would have significant economic consequences for the sector.
In this context, a national task force, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection, Fernand Etgen, has already been set up in February 2018 to develop prevention in consultation with all stakeholders. This task force remains active and ensures the implementation of the measures to be taken.
In addition, a sanitary vigilance network is in place and in case of discovery of a boar corpse without obvious cause of death, members of the public are asked to contact tel: 402201-666 (Administration of Nature and Forests).
The situation is taken very seriously by the national authorities who are in permanent contact with the competent authorities in Belgium and France to coordinate actions to prevent a possible spread of the virus.
