ASF on the border of the Belgorod region, Russia

01-11-2011 | Home | News

African swine fever (ASF) has been very active this month in Russia – after a temporary lull in September, in October the most number of outbreaks of the virus were reported.

On 27 October a new outbreak of ASF was found, which according to many experts and representatives of Rosselkhoznadzor, could actually put an end to Russia’s pork farming.

ASF for the first time ever was registered in the Kursk region, which is part of Black Earth Belt – the most developed agricultural region of Russia, where about 50% of the total pig stock in the country is concentrated. The south of the Kursk region borders with the Belgorod region – where almost all of the largest pig complexes in the country is located.

Also, ASF is at the border with Ukraine – in the west Kursk region border of the Sumy region of Ukraine. Currently, the veterinary services of Ukraine are taking immediate steps to prevent the spread of the ASF virus from Russia. Stricter inspection has been carried out on all animal products at the border; all farms have taken extraordinary measures to tighten safety requirements. All wild boars were shot at the border.

The Kursk region is considered to be a state of emergency, an elimination of all 400 heads of stock will take place on a farm where the outbreak was detected.

The outbreak is only a few tens of kilometers away from Russia’s largest pig complexes. According to unofficial comments from representatives of Rosselkhoznadzor for Belgorod region, “Russian pig farming has never been in so much danger.”

(By Vladislav Vorotnikov)