April 17, 2008

Slovakia reports second outbreak of swine fever in a week

Slovakia veterinarian confirmed Wednesday of a second outbreak of swine fever in the eastern region.

The head of the regional veterinary authority, Radoslav Sterbak, said up to 12,000 pigs from a farm near the village of Jesenske were ordered to be slaughtered to prevent the disease from spreading.

The farm is located 220 kilometers east of Bratislava.

It is Slovakia's second outbreak of the disease in a week. It was detected last week on a farm in Dolne Semerovce, 150 kilometers east of the Slovak capital. About 7,000 pigs have been ordered slaughtered in the area.

Both farms belong to the Danish-owned company Pigagro SRO.

The European Commission Tuesday banned exports of Slovak pigs.