Rosselkhoznadzor: More African Swine Fever outbreaks

07-09-2012 | Home | News

Two new outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) have been reported this week by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor).

One outbreak was detected in Kotelnikovo district of the Volgograd region on August 4, reports the Voronezh and Volgograd regional Rosselkhoznadzor department.

The virus was found in a deceased pig on a private farm, near a village in the region. Volgograd Regional Veterinary Laboratory has confirmed a preliminary diagnosis of African Swine Fever. Pathological material for final confirmation has been sent to the Institute of Virology and Microbiology in Pokrov.

“Currently special measures are being carried out on the stricken farm to prevent the further spread of ASF. Also experts of Rosselkhoznadzor are on site trying to identify the cause of the infection,” reported press-service of the Rosselkhoznadzor.

This outbreak of ASF was the twelfth since the beginning of the year in the Volgograd region. The last outbreak was discovered in mid-August in a private courtyard in the village Zakharov of the Chernyshkovskogo districts.

Due to ASF, the region is currently in an official state of emergency, encompassing six districts and two cities: Volgograd and the Volgski city.

Tver region outbreak
Another outbreak was detected in the Tver region in the wild, on August 3.

“Specialists of Tverskaya interdistrict laboratory have discovered genetic material of the virus of African Swine Fever in our [Tver] region in laboratory samples taken from the carcasses of two wild boars. The dead animals were found near the village Polustovo of the Kalinin district of Tver region. The lab results have been sent to the Rosselkhoznadzor Office in Tver and Pskov regions and the State Veterinary Inspectorate Tver region,” reported press-service of Rosselkhoznadzor for Tver and Pskov region.

A quarantine zone was established around the outbreak sites within which veterinary specialists will destroy the entire pig population. The diameter of the quarantine area can range from 10 to 30 kilometres.