March 14, 2007

Croatia bans pig transport due to swine fever
 

Eager to bring Croatia's swine fever epidemic under control, the country's government has selectively banned pig transport nationwide.

In a statement to AFP, agriculture ministry spokesman Mladen Pavic expressed concern over the spread of the disease from two counties two weeks ago to six counties out of 21 recently.

Pig fairs and keeping the animals in open spaces have also been prohibited, he added.

The safety measures do not extend to major pork producers who have already upgraded bio-security measures of their facilities.

Some 1,000 pigs have been culled on affected farms since January.