September 24, 2010

Swine brucellosis endangers 2,000 pigs in Latvia's Kurzeme farm

The highly contagious infection called swine brucellosis has struck livestock on a Kurzeme Province farm, and a total of 2,000 pigs may have to be destroyed.

The Food and Veterinary Service reported that out of 500 pigs tested, 400 are infected. The symptoms are spontaneous abortions, inflammation of reproductive organs and infertility.

Human to human transmissions are caused by ingestion of unsterilised milk or meat from infected animals, or close contact with their secretions. The Infectology Center of Latvia has been informed about this breakout.

The disease was discovered in mid-September and so far has not spread to other farms. The Veterinary Service added that brucellosis results in serious financial losses for farms.