AFRICAN SWINE FEVER ENTERS ARMENIA

arminfo
2007-08-23 08:54:00

The fears of Armenian veterinaries proved true-the African swine fever
‘raving’ in today’s Georgia entered Armenian territory

The Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia told ArmInfo correspondent
that emergency veterinary teams have been sent to Lori and Tavush
regions. The Head of the State Veterinary Inspection of Armenia
Grisha Bagyan is in the lead of the teams. Cases of swine and
livestock mortality were recorded in the above- mentioned regions,
in the territories adjoining the Georgian border. The final results
of laboratory analysis will be ready in a few days, but already today
the veterinaries lay an emphasis on the African swine fever. They
warn that the infected pork may contaminate human organism. With the
purpose of virus identification Armenia invited Georgian specialists
who are more experienced in the fight against the African swine fever.

Moreover, Armenia sent animals’ tissue samples to Russia and Georgia
for the identification of the livestock’s disease. During the African
swine fever epidemic more than 21 000 swine fell in Georgia. African
swine fever or Pestis africana suum was first recorded in 1903 in South
Africa. It is spread in Africa, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Swine
and boars of all ages are sensitive to the disease in natural
conditions. The infection propagates via food, pasture, and transport
means, impure excrement of the diseased. Infects, birds and preys of
beast may be the infection carriers. In case of emergence of African
swine fever, they kill all the swine in the farm, do away with the
dead body, disinfect the pigsty and the implements.