Tuscany swine fever outbreak prompts call for hunter cooperation

Regional councilor Gabriele Veneri (FdI) appealed to hunters to work with commissioner Giovanni Filippini after a joint parliamentary hearing confirmed that Tuscany is handling the African swine fever crisis inadequately. He warned that the virus, which does not infect humans, spreads rapidly through wild boar and other wildlife and can survive on footwear for up to 15 days, threatening large farms and native breeds such as the Cinta Senese.

Veneri noted that the national government allocated about €1 million for the emergency, including €420 000 for Tuscany in April, but the funds and supplied boar‑capture cages have not been used. Producers of finocchiona, Tuscan ham, and Cinta Senese have submitted urgent measures to the regional agriculture and health ministers, seeking faster action and compensation of €150 per boar for hunting associations.