June 7, 2007
Russia worries on African swine fever outbreak in neighbouring Georgia
Russia is alarmed on the outbreak of a pig disease outbreak in neighbouring Zugdid region of Georgia which carries the symptoms of African swine fever and the country is taking all measures to prevent its spread to the Russian territory.
According to Russian food and veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, the disease-though no clear diagnose has been set--appears to have all clinical signs and pathological-anatomical effects show similarity with African swine fever.
African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs caused by an Iridovirus that shows varying virulence between strains.
The virus resists inactivation, and can persist in meat up to 15 weeks, processed hams up to six months and up to one month in contaminated pens. It is endemic in most of Southern Africa, and has been reported on Europe's Iberian peninsula. Since the 1960s, outbreaks have occurred in France, Italy, Malta, Belgium,Holland, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti.