In light of the latest pandemic event, the infectious risk related to zoonoses is more current than ever. In this context, the importance of biosecurity in livestock farming is inserted, with specific reference to the management of avian influenza and swine plague. We will address the issue in this article, focusing subsequently on new prevention technologies.
The Economic Impact of Viral Epidemics in the Agrifood Sector
Viral epidemics in zootechnical activities present not only health significance: they are actual economic emergencies, sometimes destabilizing for the sector. In recent years, two specific pathogens, the avian influenza virus (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF), have alerted health authorities due to associated risks.
In the United States, the HPAI outbreak that began in 2022 resulted in the death or culling of nearly 175 million birds and infected 1,074 dairy cattle herds, with significant losses in the dairy sector.
As for Europe, EFSA recorded, between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, 2,514 detections of HPAI A(H5) in 32 countries. The majority of outbreaks were attributed to the entry of wild birds into farms.
In Italy, in the swine sector, the Ministerial Decree of December 22, 2025 allocated 5 million euros to compensate companies affected by ASF.
Avian Influenza (H5N1) and Swine Plague: The Risks of Species Jumping and Airborne Transmission
An alarming aspect of the H5N1 epidemic concerns its capacity to cross species barriers. The virus, generally limited to wild birds and farmed avian species, has demonstrated progressive adaptability to mammals. Contagion in U.S. dairy cattle confirmed the potential for mammal-to-mammal transmission, opening the door to new concerns.
Furthermore, targeted investigations on ferrets revealed transmission of the A/Michigan/90/2024 strain through bioaerosol, highlighting the prerequisites for pandemic spread.
African swine fever, in turn, spreads through direct contact between animals, but also through contaminated objects and, importantly, by airborne route in farming spaces. In February 2026, the WOAH report reported 44 new outbreaks among domestic pigs and 1,279 among wild boar, with 42,659 animals lost in that month alone.
The common element between the two pathogens is airborne transmissibility: viral particles, which spread easily in livestock farming areas, often become uncontrollable, escaping traditional biosecurity measures.
Why Traditional Biosecurity Measures (Physical Barriers) Sometimes Fail
Conventional expedients, such as fencing, access control, disinfection tanks, etc., form the basis of zootechnical biosecurity. However, outbreaks sustained by airborne transmission have brought to light some intrinsic limitations. Let’s look specifically at what these are.
- Deficient application discipline: the gradual loss of rigor in protocol application by personnel, even if well-trained, represents the main operational vulnerability.
- Incorrect sequence in cleaning and disinfection operations: disinfecting control areas before sheds, or reversing the order of operations, can nullify the effectiveness of the entire process.
- Inability to block the airway: no physical barrier is capable of stopping viruses in bioaerosol. Air entering from outside and ventilation flows bypass fences.
- Threat from wild birds: physical barriers in place do not always manage to prevent unwanted entries, as evidenced by the data in the aforementioned EFSA report.
- Loss of effectiveness of chemical disinfectants: continuous use of chemical disinfection means leads to resistance phenomena and accumulation of residues, but also stress for livestock and non-negligible environmental impact.
In general, physical barriers offer incomplete and marginal protection, without addressing the root of the problem. To address this deficit, today there are no shortage of cutting-edge tools capable of intervening on indoor air.
e4life farm: The Technological Shield for Animal Health
In this context, e4life farm represents a concrete and advanced solution for biosecurity in livestock farming. Based on e4shield™ technology, this device was designed for zootechnical environments, countering infectious risk related to respiratory viruses.
How e4shield™ Technology Inactivates Viruses in Shed and Stable Air
The device’s strength lies in continuous and preventive indoor air sanification. The production cycle is not interrupted, since there is no need to remove livestock and operators “during operation.” The technology, in fact, acts by emitting a low-intensity electromagnetic field, capable of neutralizing respiratory viruses without harming animals and people. Furthermore, the device is designed to act uniformly in space, reaching even the most remote areas of stables and sheds. Finally, it is remotely manageable and in real-time, as well as flexible in terms of installation in environments.
A Non-Invasive System: Total Effectiveness Without Animal Stress
An important issue related to biosecurity interventions concerns their impact on animals. Intensive chemical treatments, not by chance, require temporary evacuation of premises, causing stress in livestock and problems with fertility, growth, and immune efficiency. The e4life farm device removes these inconveniences, since it produces no toxic substances and generates no unpleasant odors for animals. As mentioned earlier, the technology is harmless, making it compatible with the presence of livestock.
The principle of action of e4shield™ is in line with the most recent approaches, which provide for the coexistence of animal welfare and continuous sanification strategies. It is known today that less stressed animals have more efficient immune defenses, are less susceptible to infections, and ensure higher productivity.
Competitive Advantages for the Modern Farmer
Supporting the company with e4life farm translates into a higher level of protection. This promotes, in increasingly frequent phases of health emergency, greater resilience. Ultimately, economic losses tend to decrease, while competitiveness in the sector increases.
Reduction of Environmental Viral Load and Prevention of Outbreaks
The concept of environmental viral load is important for understanding outbreak dynamics in farms. A virus like H5N1 does not infect livestock instantaneously: it first accumulates in enclosed spaces, replicates in the weakest subjects, and then spreads to nearby livestock before symptoms are visible. Reducing the concentration of viruses in indoor air means countering this scenario. Here are the concrete advantages of the technology.
- Continuous action: by keeping viral concentration low over time, the technology allows identification of early signs of epidemic before it becomes established.
- Protection during risk periods: during migration phases of wild birds, the device continues to perform its action regardless of external conditions (e.g., weather, absence of operators on the farm, etc.).
- Reduction of preventive culling: in many European countries, regulations require culling of infected livestock. Reducing the need for such intervention preserves the company from related economic damage.
- Protection of worker health: constantly low viral load also protects human subjects and, particularly, workers in the sector, from zoonoses.
Sustainability and Reduction of Massive Chemical Use
Among other things, e4life farm determines lower use of chemical disinfection means, contributing to the aspects listed.
- Reduced use of chemical disinfectants: thanks to continuous air sanification, intensive environmental treatment cycles can be reduced without compromising the level of protection.
- Reduction of chemical residues in the supply chain: by reducing chemical treatments, the presence of unwanted residues in final products (meat, eggs, milk) is also reduced.
- Reduction of antimicrobial resistance: cutting-edge systems for air sanification, such as the one in question, allow antibiotics to be used less in farming, countering the development of resistance.
- Reduction of environmental impact: electromagnetic wave systems, compared to chemical treatments, do not produce toxic emissions or waste to be disposed of, proving to be an ecological and sustainable solution.
For the zootechnical sector, sustainability is not limited to having “ethical” importance, but constitutes added value for meeting market needs and accessing public funding. In this regard, e4life farm should be considered a profitable investment and not merely a business expense.
Conclusions: Protecting Animal Capital to Ensure Business Continuity
The current epidemiological situation in zootechnical activities requires a targeted revisiting of prevention strategies. The adaptability of avian influenza, as well as the persistence, in various countries, of African swine fever and its effects, do not represent transient dangers, but constant threats to manage. In such a situation, traditional interventions remain an indispensable pillar of biosecurity in livestock farming, while requiring definitive support from new technologies.
The solution proposed by e4life easily overcomes the limitations described earlier, acting continuously and proactively. The ultimate goal is to preserve the safety of animals and operators, making it functional not only to health needs, but also to the economic and productive solidity of the company. Want to know more? Visit the store and request a quote.
