Deadly African swine fever is ‘heading to Britain’, leaked document warns

The Sun reported it is “probable” that the highly contagious viral disease will be in the country within months. 

The leaked government report seen by the media outlet was supposed to reveal concerns from officials who admit they are “barely scratching the surface” of illegal pork meat smuggling through Dover.  

The Cabinet Office’s emergency COBR Unit raised the alert following admissions by port health officials in January about the scale of illicit pork entering the country.  

Devastating consequences for pig farmers

Lucy Manzano, head of port health and public protection at Dover District Council, said about the disease: “If it lands here, it will result in UK culling programmes and export bans. 

“It will absolutely have devastating consequences for our pig farmers, wild pig community and reputation.” 

Ms Manzano added efforts to stop it could have come too late. Pork arrives to the UK in various forms, including whole pigs, chops, sausages, heads, feet, tails, and skin. 

A UK government spokesperson told the media that preventing an outbreak in the country remains one of its “key biosecurity priorities” and the government has published extensive information and guidance about the disease. 

“We work closely with Port Health Authorities and Border Force to ensure our strict border controls are enforced,” they added.

Serious concerns

A livestock coalition has recently told Defra secretary of “serious concerns” over border control failings.

The Livestock Chain Advisory Group (LCAG) has written to Steve Reed to express the industry’s concerns over the current state of border controls, with regards to both legal and illegal products of animal origin (POAO), at the Port of Dover.

The organisations include the NPA, NFU and other UK farming unions, the British Pig Association, British Meat Processors Association, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, the Livestock Auctioneers Association and Dover District Council as an additional signatory.

They said they had repeatedly raised concerns with previous ministers about the volume of illegal meat able to enter the country via Dover Port.

Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA), in conjunction with Border Force UK, has confiscated more than 100 tonnes of meat since September 2022, but funding for this key work has been cut back since April.

“It is now clear that not only does the scale of the issue suggest organised crime, even though those responsible are not penalised in anyway, that this is just the tip of the iceberg and therefore even greater resource is required, despite the suggested cut to funding,” the letter states.

How to spot African swine fever

African swine flu (ASF) is spreading through parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.

The disease poses no human threat but kills most domestic pigs that catch it.  The signs of the disease are similar to classic swine fever.

These are the things to watch out for in pigs:

• fever
• loss of appetite
• lack of energy
• sudden death with few signs beforehand

Other signs can include:

• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• red or dark skin, particularly on the ears and snout
• discharges from the eyes and nose
• laboured breathing and coughing
• abortion in pregnant sows
• weakness
• unsteady gait

There are several different strains of ASF. Pigs infected with mild strains may not become ill or show typical clinical signs. Severe strains of the disease are generally fatal.

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