Swine Fever Devastates Northern Italy's Pork Industry

The outbreak threatens Parma prosciutto production, leading to significant economic losses and strict containment measures.

Since January 2022, Italy has culled nearly 120,000 pigs to combat African swine fever, with three-quarters of the culling occurring in the past two months.
The epidemic has intensified in Lombardy, Piedmont, and Emilia Romagna, regions renowned for producing Parma prosciutto.
The Italian government appointed Giovanni Filippini as the new commissioner to implement stricter containment measures, resulting in a recent decrease in new outbreaks.
The economic impact is severe, with damages estimated at 500 million euros and monthly export losses of 20 million euros due to international bans.
Farmers are facing production limitations and price hikes, while those outside affected zones are enhancing biosecurity to prevent the disease's spread.