January 12, 2012

New African Swine Fever outbreak strikes Russia

A state of emergency has been declared in the Timashevsk district of Kransnodar, Russia, after a fresh outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in a key agricultural breeding plant.

Ninety-eight pig deaths are registered in the complex. Viral strains have been detected in samples of pathological material being sent to the regional veterinary laboratory.

The complex have already culled 2400 pigs, but the specialists are unable to prevent further spread of ASF, according to representatives of Rosselkhoznadzor for the Krasnodar Territory. The complex has more than 39,000 pigs.

The regional management of Rosselkhoznadzor has clarified that a meeting will be held with the emergency commission to determine the first caution area. It will likely include the breeding plant and the nearest village, code-named "Industrial", where there is currently about 15,000 pigs.

According to the veterinary services of the region, suspected ASF death cases are also registered in several private farms.

According to the Russian chief veterinary inspector, Nikolai Vlasov, the situation with African Swine Fever in the Russian Federation is "progressively getting worse." Moreover, frequent outbreaks of dangerous diseases - "is quite common… an indicator of the existing structure and the result of the decentralization of veterinary services of the country."