NAGORNO-KARABAKH GOVERNMENT APPROVES PLAN OF ACTIONS TO WARD OFF ASF SPREAD

ARMENPRESS
Nov 02 2007

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: The government of Nagorno-Karabakh
approved November 1 a plan of urgent actions to stop the spread of
a disease that hits pigs. Local agricultural minister Armo Tsaturian
said the first incidents of the disease, known as African Swine Fever
(ASF), had been registered in Askeran and Martakert regions. He said
the disease has already slipped into other areas of the republic.

A special office was established by prime minister Ara Harutunian to
tackle the problem.

The office has enforced a ban on pig movements and marketing along with
strict entry and exit controls between all infected and free areas.

The disease, in all likelihood, has spread to Nagorno-Karabakh from
Armenia, where it has already killed about 5,000 pigs.

The outbreak of ASF was first reported in Georgia in early June. It
then spread to Armenia.

African Swine Fever, which is highly contagious among pigs, results
in high pig mortality, as there is no vaccine against the disease. It
does not, however, affect humans.