Outbreak of African swine fever in Rudbārži parish is considered large / Article / LSM.lv

Employees of the Food and Veterinary Service (FVS) are carrying out an epidemiological investigation in Rudbārži Parish, Skrunda District, to understand how animals in two pig farms are infected with African swine fever (ASF). The FVS considers this to be a major outbreak of ASF.

On Friday evening in Rudbārži parish of Skrunda district in two places approved ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs. Almost 10,000 pigs live on one farm and less than 2,000 on the other. The two pig farms are half a kilometer apart.

FVS personnel went to farms on Saturday to start measures to combat ASF, including the destruction of 11,500 pigs. FVS veterinary inspectors from several FVS Kurzeme administrations work at the scene. A large number of pigs have already been delivered for destruction. A three-kilometer protection zone and a ten-kilometer surveillance zone have been established around the area, which means that special attention will be paid to the transport of pigs as well as pork products.

The epidemiological investigation is currently underway at the Korkalns shed. At the same time, pigs are being killed in the second shed “Kalna Dzenīši”. It starts on Saturday and is scheduled for about Monday.

Asked whether all purity and other biosafety requirements were met, Edvins Oļševskis, Deputy Director of the FVS Veterinary Surveillance Department, replied: “We are also looking at it and will look at it in conjunction with an epidemiological investigation. Its initial situation is so ambiguous.”

About twenty people work on site.

“We really see this as a big outbreak in one parish.

We also analyze cases of wild boar. It is possible that the disease came directly from wild boars, but, of course, the results of the epidemiological investigation will show us, “Olševskis pointed out.

The FVS calls on pig keepers to be responsible and recalls that summer is a high-risk period when the virus is most likely to enter domestic pig holdings.

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