Europe's farmers on red alert as deadly African swine fever spreads to Belgium

Calls for a mass cull of wild boars to protect pork industry after disease is found in two animals in Gaume

An outbreak of African swine fever terrorising pig farmers in Europe has dramatically escalated with the confirmation that the deadly infectious disease has spread to Belgium.

The discovery of the highly contagious disease in two wild boars found dead near the town of italle, in Gaume, has sparked calls for a mass cull of that species to protect western Europe's pork industry.