An epizootic of African swine fever in Belgium and its eradication

In March 1985 an outbreak of African swine fever was diagnosed in Belgium, in the province of West Flanders. The source of the infection was probably pork imported from Spain which was fed to only one boar. A total of 12 farms were infected in the epizootic out of 185 farms which were in contact. Severe control measures were imposed and the pigs on 60 farms were slaughtered (34,041 animals). In September 1985, it was concluded that African swine fever had been eradicated. This conclusion was based mainly on a serological survey of 3008 farms (116,308 blood samples) which remained negative.