Europe's pig industry on alert of African swine fever

Europe's pig industry has been put on alert after the presence of African swine fever was confirmed in northwest Russia.

It was thought the disease was confined to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The FAO said this indicates the virus could be transported over wider geographic areas. It warned Europe that in a worst case scenario, Central Asia and China - home to the world's largest pig population - could now be at risk.

African swine fever infects only pigs. It is similar to classical swine fever.

The FAO has issued an advisory for all countries to be vigilant and check early detection and response plans.

African swine fever is believed to have originally entered into the Caucasus through the Black Sea port of Poti, Georgia, where rubbish from a ship was taken to a local dump where pigs would come to feed.

There is currently no vaccine against the virus. The FAO has again renewed calls for laboratories in the US, Europe and the Russian Federation to develop an effective vaccine against it.