Authorities have taken a series of measures in recent months to contain the outbreak, including isolating pigs and prohibiting their transport, killing pigs whose owners cannot be found and disinfecting vehicles leaving areas affected by the disease, Bakur Kvezereli told The Associated Press.

"Today we can say that thanks to the measures that have been taken, we have managed to prevent the further spread of the epidemic," the deputy minister said. However, he said more pigs are expected to die in the affected areas of the Caucasus Mountain nation.

The sale of pork has been banned at shops and markets in the capital, Tbilisi, and other areas, he said.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that the outbreak of the contagious viral disease, which does not affect humans, could have a "catastrophic" economic impact unless its spread was prevented.

Source: International Herald Tribune

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