First case of African Swine Fever confirmed in Poland
After Lithuania, a second country in the European Union has now confirmed an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). For the first time, the virus also killed a wild boar in Eastern Poland.
The disease was discovered in a dead wild boar near the town of Grzybowszczyzna, in the Sokólski district, Podlaskie province, close to the border with Belarus, and about 75 km south of the border with Lithuania.
The boar was found on January 13, and reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) four days later.
The outbreak was confirmed by the National Veterinary Research Institute using a PCR test. Measures applied include the control of wildlife reservoirs, movement control and screening.
African Swine Fever has been rampaging the Russian pig herd for several years now, after having been discovered in Georgia and Armenia prior to that. Recently, the disease also showed up in Belarus, Ukraine and Lithuania.
Until now, there has not been a vaccine for ASF.
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