July 5, 2007

Swine fever outbreak in Georgia questioned

Economic experts are suspecting a deliberate introduction of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Georgia and demanding a professional investigation on the government's late response to the disease.

Economic expert, Gia Khukhashvili said the talk of subduing the virus is "hard to understand" because most of the animals died or were already culled.  Khukhashvili further said the virus were probably used as a "biological weapon used to destroy local pig farmers to lessen competition in Georgian pork industry. The expert added neighbouring countries had not detected the disease, fuelling reports that the outbreak were "deliberately" done solely for Georgia's pork sector. 

Another economic expert Davit Ebralidze share claims concerning the "late government reaction" to ASF. Ebralidze claims officials didn't start fighting the virus until it had spread all across the country.

Jan Slingenbergh, a senior animal health officer of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said the delayed detection of the virus could have moved to neighbouring Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.

Nukri Gugushvili, Head of special headquarters created at the Ministry of Agriculture to deal with ASF in Georgia reacted in the accusations, ASF-related pig deaths have decreased due to the government's effective control on a large scale.

Khukhashvili believes the issue of compensation as recommended by the FAO must also be addressed to prove the government's true attitude towards the farming sector.