Authorities deny African Swine Fever outbreak

It is reported that there were no outbreaks of infectious diseases of cattle at Uskhodniaye pig farm.

BelTA official news agency has learnt it from the department of veterinary and food control at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus.

The department says it received information from the chief state veterinary inspector in the Baranavichy district on April 26 about swine abortions at Uskhodniaye pig farm. “Specialists from our department, the State Veterinary Centre, the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and the Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine visited the farm,” the department says. “A thorough examination of reasons for swine abortions has been carried out and samples for laboratory tests were obtained.”

The department explains that laboratory tests “do not confirm pigs have dangerous infectious diseases. Uskhodniaye pig farm works as usual.”

The samples were also sent to a reference laboratory of the World Organisation for Animal Health in Russia.

“In accordance with ruling No. 462 of the Council of Ministers of Belarus of April 5, 2001, additional security measures were taken at the farm until the results from the reference laboratory are received,” the department informs.

The website charter97.org already reported about pig deaths at Uskhodniaye pig farm owned by the Baranavichy Bakery. The local authorities denied any information about the incident, but the farm was cordoned off by police. Local residents confirmed the facts of mass burials of pigs.

The post popular version of the incident was the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF), cases of which were noticed in the neighbouring countries. The outbreak in Belarus may cause a ban on meat supplies to Russia. Belarus plans to export 310,000 tonnes of meat and meat products to Russia in 2013.

The African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs characterised by fever, skin cyanosis and internal hemorrhages. The disease is on the A list according to the international classification of infectious diseases of animals. The ASF is not dangerous for people.