A dead wild boar was discovered in Italy’s capital Rome and tested positive for African swine fever (ASF), the regional government said on Thursday.
Earlier in the year, an isolated outbreak of the deadly virus was reported in northwest Italy. This is the first time an outbreak has been detected in the center of the country.
Health authorities sealed off the affected area. It’s estimated there are 2.3 million wild boar in Italy, with around 20,000 of the wild pigs living in the province of Rome.
News of the first case of ASF in Rome follows a recent incident in which a woman was charged by a wild pig in the Balduina district in the north of the capital, Wanted in Rome reports.
The woman was taking out garbage at night when she was chased and attacked by a large sow, with seven piglets in tow, local reports say.
Several thousand wild pigs are estimated to live in and around the capital city, foraging for food.
ASF is harmless to humans and does not impact food safety. However, it almost always results in death in pigs and has caused upheaval in the global swine market. China suspended pork imports from Italy in January after the illness was detected in a wild boar in the Piedmont region.
The Italian government has appointed a special commissioner to coordinate measures aimed at eliminating the disease.
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