Hoge Veluwe closes pig ravines in the face of African swine fever

,, And then the step towards the Netherlands is no longer as big, "says Jacob Leidekker, head of operations of the park.He points out that the virus has not yet been detected in the Veluwe and the closure of the wild boar park is a precautionary measure, which should protect the wildlife of about eighty wild boars, while potentially infected animals can no longer be a threat to the thousands of hogs, including live in the Veluwe

There are two harbors on the east and west sides of the park that can be easily closed.Deer and deer can still cross to other natural areas as the grid of one meter high is not an obstacle in these points.

Omrasterd

The Hoge Veluwe National Park was fully fenced until 2013. For the sake of wildlife, fences and grills have been removed at the time. Leidekker, the fact that the doors of pigs are still there is ideal: "In this way, we can quickly stem the spread of diseases and pests."

,, One of the ways by which the virus can to be transferred is from pig to pig. We want to fix it as much as possible, "explains Leidekker." Another way the virus can move is, for example, through contaminated materials, moved by humans. Leidekker: & # 39; The latter is almost impossible to prevent. But that does not take away from the fact that we can already do what is in our power. "

When wild boars are infected, they can die." In the eighties, we had this and then all wild boars had to be fired.The problem is much more the pigs on farms. it is natural to drive. "

African swine fever is a contagious viral disease that can occur in" normal "pigs and other species of pigs, including the wild boar of the Netherlands. The disease comes from Africa, but since 2007, it is also found in Russia, Ukraine and Poland. Since 2014, the virus has appeared in a greater number of countries in Western Europe. In September 2018, he made a big leap forward and was revealed in Belgium. The clinical picture of African swine fever is very similar to that of classical swine fever: fever, lifeless pigs, lack of appetite, inflamed ocular mucous membranes, red skin, (bloody) diarrhea and vomiting. Animals can die. The disease is not dangerous for people

Leidekker worries that African swine fever has been transferred to Belgium from Eastern Europe. ,, This jump is a big one. He can now come so easily to the Netherlands. If you notice, you are already too late. Then a large area becomes infected and the area must also be closed to people. That's why we now close the doors and see if all doors have collapsed. "