African Swine Fever detected in Russia
The spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Russian Federation has prompted neighbouring Finland, an EU Member State, to bring in precautionary measures. It is believed that the virus began spreading in the Caucasus region further to the south in 2007 and has spread throughout the Russian Federation since, reaching as far north as the area around St. Petersburg in the autumn of 2009.
Evira, the Finnish Food Safety Authority, has announced the introduction of examinations to determine if both wild boar and domestic pigs demonstrate symptoms of ASF. The virus can spread either directly from animal to animal, or indirectly via people, vehicles, improperly cooked meat, and so on. The import of any pigs or foodstuffs sourced from them from any region where the virus has been detected is illegal, as is the feeding of food waste to pigs.
A report from Evira cites the cause of the precautionary measures as an outbreak on two farms near Nurmes in the Segezha region of the Russian Federation, approximately 160km east of the Finnish border. Another report from the Organization for Animal Health (OIE) records that eight pigs were found to be infected on a farm, one of which was culled and seven of which died.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
