MINSK, 15 July (BelTA) – The Agriculture and Food Ministry of Belarus dismisses speculations of the African swine fever outbreak in Stolbtsy District, Minsk Oblast, BelTA was told by the Veterinary and Food Monitoring Department of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry.
The Department released a statement on its website refuting the information by some Internet portals that alleged, making reference to the staff of the Stolbtsy district veterinary station, that an outbreak of African swine fever was reported in Stolbtsy District. The Department said that this information “is not true and is viewed by the Department as an attempt to stir up tensions over this disease in the country”.
The Veterinary and Food Monitoring Department informed that as of 12 July 2013, no cases of pig mortality cased by African swine fever were reported in the district.
“This district has been included in the list of highly threatened areas following reports of African swine fever in the neighboring Ivie District of Grodno Oblast. Measures are taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Pigs are withdrawn and slaughtered to create a buffer zone,” the Department informed.
African swine fever is a contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild swine. The disease is transmitted via direct contact, via products made of pork, by ticks and mechanically (by transportation means, during the transportation of people and animals). No vaccine is available. The animals suspected to have the disease are slaughtered. The disease does not affect humans.
Written by belta.by
