August 2, 2012

Ukraine reports African swine fever among pigs

Ukraine has reported fresh outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the south of the country.

According to the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), the virus was found in pigs in a backyard farm in the village Komyshuvatka, in the Prymorks'yi district, in the region Zaporozh'ye.

The OIE, which confirmed the outbreak on August 1, stated the outbreak was found in five pigs of which three had died of African Swine Fever The other two had been culled.

The OIE wrote that the three animals had been affected with non-specific clinical signs, as only fever was detected. They died shortly afterwards. The samples were checked with PCR method, after which ASF was detected.

The location and the surrounding streets have been closed off, and traffic has been led through a detour. The pigs in the village have been killed and cremated.

It is thought that holidaymakers have carried the virus across the border, when they brought livestock products from Russia. Russia is reporting daily outbreaks of African Swine Fever, both in the south of the country as well as in the Tver region near Moscow.

In clinical signs somewhat similar to Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever is a deadly pig disease for which no vaccination is available.