Russia: New ASF outbreak, first criminal cases already filed
Russia southerly Krasnodar Region ha been struck with a new outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). The site of this most recent case is a farm with more than 12,000 animals, reports the Southern Regional Centre of the Ministry of Emergency for the country.
An official report noted that the pathological samples taken from the dead pigs were sent for study to the Kropotkinskaya veterinary laboratory, where a specialist, after analysis, declared that the samples were infected with the ASF virus.
A state of emergency has been declared in the area, and all the pig stock at the stricken farm will be culled. According to information provided by Rosselhoznadzor, since the end of July 2012 more than 20 outbreaks of ASF have been reported in the 12 districts that make up Krasnodar region. The authorities have had to destroy more than 120,000 pigs.
New criminal prosecution
Prosecution authorities have organised a special inspection, during which it has been revealed that gross violations of veterinary regulations have been made by the farmers. On the basis of this information 18 criminal cases have already been filed.
In particular, as noted in the report, in some cases, breeders concealed information about the sudden death of animals. These facts were revealed in eight facilities in Ust-Labinsk, Krasnoarmeisky, Kalininsky, Seversky and Korenovskii areas of the Krasnodar region.
Also inspections showed that in the fences surroundings some commercial enterprises in the Krasnoarmeisky, and Temryuksky areas there were gaps, so it was possible for wild and stray animals to get through the fence. In addition, a number of companies did not perform laboratory testing of animal feed, while others do not use sanitary staff.
The potential penalty for the violation of veterinary rules that result in an outbreak of ASF is two years in prison. (by Vladislav Vorotnikov)
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