Classical swine fever in The Netherlands 1997-1998: a description of organisation and measures to eradicate the disease

The central and regional organisation of the campaign to eradicate the CSF epidemic in the Netherlands in 1997/1998 is described. The main instruments used in the campaign were based on stamping-out and movement restrictions specified by the European Union. Additional instruments were used for the f irst time, namely, pre-emptive culling of contact and neighbouring farms, c ompartmentalisation of transport, monthly serological screening in establis hed surveillance areas and supervised repopulation of all farms in the form er surveillance zone. Two other measures, the killing of very young piglets and a breeding ban were introduced to reduce production in established sur veillance zones. Several factors complicated the eradication campaign, for instance, the late detection of the first infection; artificial inseminatio n as a source of infection; the organisation of pig farming in the Netherla nds, with its highly concentrated production and dependence on the transpor t of stock from one unit to another; insufficient rendering capacity; decre asing sensitivity of clinical inspection; and extremely high costs. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.