April 16, 2008

Slovakia culls pigs following swine fever outbreak

Authorities in Slovakia said Tuesday they had begun killing thousands of pigs at a farm in southern Slovakia following an outbreak of highly contagious swine fever.

Around 7,000 pigs will have to be killed at a farm in the town of Dolne Semerovce, state veterinary official Milan Matus said. He added that the cull will probably last until Thursday.

Another 4,000 pigs from a farm owned by the same Danish investor near the southern town of Jesenske may also have to be killed if suspicions are confirmed that the disease has spread in the area.

The European Commission slapped a ban on exports of pigs and pig products out of Slovakia on Tuesday to stop the highly contagious disease from spreading.

Swine fever, which kills pigs but is harmless to humans, last erupted in southern Slovakia in 2005 with thousands of animals killed as a result.