Russia: Outbreaks of ASF continue, even near Moscow

//07 May 2012
Early May, during routine inspections, specialists of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor, found 13 carcasses of dead wild boars in the Tula. The boars had died from African Swine Fever.
The pigs were found in the hunting area Rudnevsky, in Tula region’s Leninsky district. The carcasses were discovered by Rosselkhoznadzor’s branch for Moscow city, the Moscow and Tula regions.

The African Swine Fever (ASF) infection was confirmed during a study of samples of pathological material in Tula Interregional Veterinary Laboratory. The diagnosis was confirmed by the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology.

The total number of pigs in the hunting area is about 99 head, while in the district there are about 613 head. Presumably all will now be destroyed. Currently necessary arrangements are being taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Quarantine was applied in the ​​contamination area.

Sergei Dankvert
Interestingly, just a week before the outbreak, Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dankvert said that veterinary service in Moscow city, the Moscow and Tula regions are failing to implement a necessary control measures to prevent the spread of ASF on their territory.

At that time he said, "First and foremost, it is quite a formal approach from the territorial divisions of veterinary services to control disposal of food waste in the food services and socio-cultural sphere, which today are a major source of ASF virus spread. Another problematic issue is the lack of effective control by departmental veterinary services of the Moscow region for farms, carrying out their agricultural activities in the territory of military units."

According to preliminary data, the source of infection was the feed found by animals found at a local waste deposit

The full report of Rosselkhoznadzor can be found here.

Related website:
• Rosselkhoznadzor