African Swine Fever spreads in Armenia

ARMENIA - African Swine Fever (ASF), a disease that first hit the country’s northern regions leading to the death of hundreds of pigs in Lori and Tavush, has spread. It has reached the outskirts of the Armenian capital city.

7 September 2007

3 minute read

Asia

African Swine Fever is a viral transboundary animal disease. Experts say it can neither be prevented medically nor can it be treated. There is no vaccine against the disease which causes high mortality ranging from 80 to 100 percent.Armenian veterinary authorities say they have discovered so far 7 hotbeds of the disease in Tavush and Lori, where 1,700 pigs were destroyed and their bodies were buried 3.5 meters deep.

Despite these alarming developments, veterinary authorities say there is little to panic about because they have the situation under their control and because the disease does not affect human beings.

Grisha Baghian, chief of an agricultural ministry’s department for food and veterinary safety, said to a news conference today that they are applying all possible security measures.

"We have surveillance officers as well as farmers trained to recognize the early symptoms or signs of the disease," he said.

Breeders are being urged to properly dispose off affected pigs by either burning or burying them deep. Mr Baghian said that ministry experts have elaborated a plan of brief actions which envisages also compensations to pig breeders, who lost their animals. He said all markets in Yerevan and across the country are being watched by specialists to spot any instance of pork sale.

Source: AZGArmenianDaily