African Swine Fever detected for seventh time
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
10.07.2014 11:21
Poland's Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed that African Swine Fever has been detected once again near the Polish-Belarusian border, dealing a further blow to the Polish pork industry.
Photo: wikipedia
“The seventh instance of ASF concerns six wild boar that were found dead in the forest by border guards on 4 July,” Marek Pirsztuk announced.
According to Pirsztuk the dead animals were discovered near the village of Luzany, 4 km from the Polish-Belarusian border.
The discovery has jeopardised hopes that a block on Polish pork exports to Russia and several countries in the Far East might be lifted in the immediate future.
Ukraine ended its embargo on Polish pork products in June, having initially blocked imports on 17 February.
Although the finds have been confined to wild boar, pig farmers suffered in the buffer zone set up in eastern Poland, with bans on export of pork products from the region.
Russia initially introduced an EU-wide block on pork products, although EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg argued that in all likelihood, the outbreak occurred in Belarus, and not within the EU.
African Swine Fever is not dangerous to humans, but it is one of the most deadly viruses for wild boar and pigs. (nh)
Source: IAR