New outbreak of African swine fever in Russia
MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax) - A new outbreak of African swine fever has occurred in Russia, the Federal Veterinarian and Phytosanitary Control Service said.
The virus was detected at a private farm in Komarovo, in the Mozdok district of North Ossetia. Three pigs from the farm and 96 pigs within the contamination zone were slaughtered, and the village was put under quarantine.
About 40 African swine fever cases were registered in Russia, mostly in southern areas, in 2009.
The Russian Agriculture Ministry said the virus came from wild boars populating the North Caucasus. The ministry has a pessimistic African swine fever forecast for this year. Outbreaks are possible in Voronezh, Lipetsk, Saratov, Belgorod and Moscow regions, Tatarstan and Mordovia.