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ASF continues without control in the Moscow

11/6/2012

African Swine Fever

African swine fever continues causing problems in the Tver region, located on the north of the Russian capital, Moscow. The first outbreaks in this region appeared in May 2011, with the involvement of 127 domestic pigs. Successive outbreaks occurred affecting both domestic and wild population of the area (in June, July and November 2011). This fact was identified as a signal of danger evolution of the disease, implying the existence of viral circulation in the area, and therefore an increased risk of dissemination and maintenance of ASF in the area.

These predictions have been recently confirmed with the detection of an infected boar in Lihoslavlsky area during the month of June of this year, revealing that the virus has remaines in the area during these months. This area, located in the Tver region, has not reported outbreaks before, so the alarms have started on the Russian Veterinary Services, to the insufficient knowledge of the extent of the problem. These Services has begun a program to prevent spread and eradication of ASF in the area, including the census of all animals in the region.

On the other hand, unofficial sources have reported the presence of several outbreaks in the Tula region, at the south of the capital. In fact, this area it has been considered by the Federal Veterinary Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) as the current hot spot of the disease in the country. Waiting for official notification to the OIE confirming these outbreaks this fact, the truth is that the spread and persistence of the disease in this region, where the pig population is much higher than many regions in the country, could mean significant economic losses, and further complications for the control of the disease.

The dissemination and persistence of ASF in these two regions is a step in the progressive approach of the disease to the northwest and therefore to the borders of neighboring countries such as Ukraine and Belarus and neighboring countries of the EU.

Peste Porcina Africana Moscú

Fig.: ASF outbreaks from 2007 to 2012 (20 June) with swine density in the world.  
(Source: own elaboration with data from OIE, 2012 and Glipha, 2000).

Sources: African Swine Fever outbreaks continue near Moscow (Pig progress News). Clarification of the ASF Virus in the Tver Region (Rosselkhoznadzor / Press about us) 

Lina Mur Gil & José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
SUAT-UCM