October 24, 2019
 

African swine fever discovered among wild boars in Estonia

Estonia will maintain strict regulations and inspections for African swine fever (ASF) as the country's swine farms have been ASF-free for two years, reported ERR News.

Throughout this year, Estonia has conducted inspections on swine farms and found no new traces of ASF. However, ASF has been detected among wild boar stock in the country, particularly in Lääne county and in Ida-Viru county.

The country has initiated zone restrictions meant to curb the spread of ASF.

In the first zone (Hiiumaa, Estonia's second island), where swine farms are rigorously supervised, live swine can only be transported after stringent inspections have been made, and wild boar stock must be examined before hunting with regard to the sale of commercial meat. No ASF has been detected among domestic and wild swine in this zone.

In zone two (mainland Estonia, together with Saaremaa), there are tougher restrictions for the transport of live swine and even stiffer examinations on swine farms and those who keep and trade wild boar stock.

Neighbouring Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania are still suffering from the spread of ASF, with 14,000 swine culled in 2019.

There were over 900 swine farms in Estonia before the ASF spread between 2014 to 2018. Now there are only just over 100 swine farms left in the country.

-   ERR News