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AFRICAN SWINE FEVER HITS NEW AREAS OF COUNTRY
ARMENPRESS
Sep 5, 2007
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: The African Swine Fever (ASF), a
disease that hit first the country's northern regions leading to the
death of hundreds of pigs in Lori and Tavush provinces, has extended
to other areas of the country, reaching, particularly, the outskirts
of the Armenian capital city.
African Swine Fever is a viral transboundary animal disease. Experts
say it can neither be prevented medically nor can it be treated. There
is no vaccine against the disease which causes high mortality ranging
from 80 to 100 percent.
Armenian veterinary authorities say they have discovered so far 7
hotbeds of the disease in Tavush and Lori, where 1,700 pigs were
destroyed and their bodies were buried 3.5 meters deep.
Despite these alarming developments, veterinary authorities say there
is little to panic about because they have the situation under their
tight control and because the disease does not affect human beings.
Grisha Baghian, chief of an agricultural ministry's department for
food and veterinary safety, said to a news conference today that they
are applying all possible security measures.
"We have surveillance officers as well as farmers trained to recognize
the early symptoms or signs of the disease," he said, urging breeders
to properly dispose off affected pigs by either burning or burying
them deep.
He said the ministry experts have designed a plan of swift actions
which envisages also compensations to pig breeders, who lost their
animals. He said all markets in Yerevan and across the country are
being watched by specialists to spot any instance of pork sale.
But the disease that poses little danger to humans, have already
reduced not only pork but also beef consumption in Armenia.
The disease has slipped into Armenia from neighboring Georgia where
it has killed tens of thousands of pigs in summer.
Russia banned imports of meat from Armenia on Wednesday, citing the
ASF outbreak. It also restricted imports of some Armenian agricultural
products for the same reason.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ARMENPRESS
Sep 5, 2007
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: The African Swine Fever (ASF), a
disease that hit first the country's northern regions leading to the
death of hundreds of pigs in Lori and Tavush provinces, has extended
to other areas of the country, reaching, particularly, the outskirts
of the Armenian capital city.
African Swine Fever is a viral transboundary animal disease. Experts
say it can neither be prevented medically nor can it be treated. There
is no vaccine against the disease which causes high mortality ranging
from 80 to 100 percent.
Armenian veterinary authorities say they have discovered so far 7
hotbeds of the disease in Tavush and Lori, where 1,700 pigs were
destroyed and their bodies were buried 3.5 meters deep.
Despite these alarming developments, veterinary authorities say there
is little to panic about because they have the situation under their
tight control and because the disease does not affect human beings.
Grisha Baghian, chief of an agricultural ministry's department for
food and veterinary safety, said to a news conference today that they
are applying all possible security measures.
"We have surveillance officers as well as farmers trained to recognize
the early symptoms or signs of the disease," he said, urging breeders
to properly dispose off affected pigs by either burning or burying
them deep.
He said the ministry experts have designed a plan of swift actions
which envisages also compensations to pig breeders, who lost their
animals. He said all markets in Yerevan and across the country are
being watched by specialists to spot any instance of pork sale.
But the disease that poses little danger to humans, have already
reduced not only pork but also beef consumption in Armenia.
The disease has slipped into Armenia from neighboring Georgia where
it has killed tens of thousands of pigs in summer.
Russia banned imports of meat from Armenia on Wednesday, citing the
ASF outbreak. It also restricted imports of some Armenian agricultural
products for the same reason.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress