New ASF outbreak in Stavropol region, Russia

A new outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) has recently been revealed on a private farm at Altukhov village, Blagodarnenskogo district in the Stavropol region. According to Rosselkhoznadzor, the farmer attempted to hide the fact that pig deaths occurred on his farm.

“Information about the death of pigs came from the Blagodarnenskogo district on 27 November. The regional department of Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) found the unauthorised burial of pigs a kilometer from the Gremuchi village. Samples from the carcasses of pigs were taken, which were further studied in the regional veterinary laboratory. The result of this study showed a genetic causative agent of African Swine Fever,” according to the Rosselkhoznadzor report.

The investigation discovered that one of the farmers in the Stavropol region found on his farm deaths of several pigs in mid-November. He did not report to this to veterinary authorities, instead the farmer moved the carcasses to the field near the village Gremuchi and burnt them. According to preliminary information, there were 40 pigs in total on the farm where the outbreak happened, however, now all of them have been culled.

“The owner of the dead animals tried to hide the outbreak from the regional department of Rosselkhoznadzor, therefore there were no notifications about the animal deaths. As a result the executive authorities of the region were unable to organise and carry out necessary measures to limit the spread of the disease in the region, which is very serious especially taking into account the fact that the outbreak happened almost a month ago,” added the report.

The farmer may face criminal punishment.