Belgorod region struggles with African swine fever

Belgorod region has become the 13th region, where this year recorded African swine fever.

July 17 at the infected farms Krasnogvardeisky quarantined area, veterinarians began sanitization. Meat producers are concerned about the spread of the disease at an alarming rate. The diseased animals were found by veterinarians in a private farm on the border with Ukraine. In Rosselkhoznadzor believe that these are the farms where the health standards are not met, and are a major cause of such emergency.

Nikolai Vlasov, Deputy Head of Rosselkhoznadzor:

- stupidity, greed and lack of control - that there are three main reasons for the spread of African swine fever. Imagine a village, it has a kind of citizen of the pig farm. What about that nobody knows? Does not know that the village administration? Do not know about the neighbors? Oh where, where, but in the Belgorod region, I do not believe that they do not know what threatens it underground breeding. Logically, in order not to hit the region as a whole (because it's large farms and the social sphere it is and taxes), the neighborhood of pig farms to be cleaned. It is advisable to clear of these wild farms that do not comply with, all of the Belgorod region. Because even if they are not affected by the infection of large enterprises, they may suffer great damage due to the introduction of restrictive measures with regard to its neighbors in the Belgorod region.

In the Belgorod region number of pigs with millions of animals. In 2012, the region produced 561,600 tons of pork. Because of the threat of ASF here a few years ago began to buy sows from private plots and farms, the government compensated not only current, but also the possible loss from the change of the pig population in other animals. For these purposes, it took about 300 million rubles. Keep the pigs were allowed only for their own needs, buying youngsters by specialized companies.

Introduced in quarantine ordered the police to check not only arriving in and departing vehicles, but also markets, schools and kindergartens. Together with the police in raids involving specialists of veterinary services, Rosselkhoznadzor and Epidemiology.

Perhaps the most drastic measure to combat ASF has a complete ban on the sale of any meat in the markets. The decision was taken on July 22. In

sanitary zone, except Krasnogvardeisky, entered Rovensky, Novooskolskiy, Korochansky, Alexis, Valuyskiy, Veydelevsky, Volokonovsky, Krasnensky and Chernyansky areas.

Yet the authorities in all cases of outbreaks of ASF can not be considered sufficient. In growing pigs for personal consumption farms are not less likely to catch the virus than in commercial farms, and the disintegration of the Veterinary Services does not allow regional bodies to work cohesively. July 22 Rosselhoznadzor proposed that all-out survey of all farms and family farms, and check each farmstead, not just those where the registered pig. According

website Rosselkhoznadzor