Last week, a wild boar piglet was found near Hummuli, South Estonia, who apparently was infected with African swine fever, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.
“The dead wild boar that was diseased was found 6 km from the Latvian border. The disease has not been diagnosed in any domesticated pigs. To keep it that way, all animal keepers have to protect their animals from the disease and implement the prescribed bio-security measures. Only in this way can we prevent the disease reaching home pigs,” said Estonian Food and Veterinary Board Director General Ago Pärtel.
The disease was diagnosed by the Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory and it was confirmed by EU reference lab in Spain.
In the 8-kilometre zone around the place where the diseased wild boar was found, there are 15 pig farms, who are now subject to restrictions on movement and slaughter of animals as well as the obligation to observe additional bio-safety measures. All pig farms in the area have been informed of the new restrictions.Estonian Minister of Agriculture Ivari Padar convenes now national disease control commission and the governor of Valga county convenes the local disease control committee.
Pärtel will notify international health organizations, the European Commission and the EU Member States and neighbouring countries about the scope of the disease and the disease control measures implemented.Agriculture Minister Ivar Padar said that probably the swine plague has been in Estonian forests since summer, but now it was confirmed. “The export of live pigs will probably have restrictions. Meat and meat products will not be affected,” said Padar.
Source: The Baltic Course
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/markets_and_companies/?doc=96044