April 28, 2009

Russia may expand meat ban if swine flu spreads

Russia, which has banned meat imports from some countries hit by the swine flu, warns Monday (Apr 27) that it may impose further bans if the disease spreads.

Russia is currently not considering any veterinary protective measures for the EU, Canada and New Zealand, and instead has only requested information on human and pig health monitoring, said the country's top veterinarian Nikolai Vlasov.

Vlasov said there is no alarming information from Brazil and Argentina therefore no measures will be taken against imports from those countries.

But Russia will extend bans to countries like New Zealand if there were many registered cases of swine flu among humans, he said.

Russia is concerned about the H1N1 strain of swine flu virus, which has killed more than 100 people in Mexico. Due to the virulence of the virus, Russia has imposed restrictions on meat imports from North and Central America.

Vlasov said so far there had not been outbreaks of flu among Russia's pig herd and veterinary authorities were not taking any special measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Russia is working on improving the sanitary conditions at all pig farmers after swine fever was discovered in the country, so it is unnecessary to take additional steps as everything had already being done, Vlasov said.

Vlasov said if it is necessary, Russia may prepare anti-flu vaccines for pigs not only for itself but also for other European and Asian countries.

Russia may prepare a vaccine for pigs in a very short period of time, after receiving a specimen of the virus, which is already in the country, he said.