Kaliningrad: need urgent preventive measures against ASF

Extraordinary meeting Antiepizootic Commission (FTC) against African swine fever was held in Kaliningrad. Before the meeting, a working meeting POCs Deputy Head of Rosselkhoznadzor Eugene Nepoklonov vice-governor of the Kaliningrad region, Konstantin Suslov.

The meeting , chaired by Konstantin Suslov were discussed the most important aspects of the proposed anti-epizootic measures to prevent the introduction of disease to the region . The urgency of the meeting dictated the appearance of official information about the ASF virus circulation in the territory of Lithuania. Konstantin Suslov stressed the importance of collaboration of various agencies , including the TCF Rosgranitsa , Rosselkhoznadzor Rospotrebnadzora , Ministry of Defence and a number of other structures. Vice Governor noted the need for stricter screening procedures hand luggage at airports and enhanced inspection of vehicles crossing the border in the road border crossings , as well as disinfecting vehicles . As noted by Eugene

Nepoklonov , to achieve real positive results in the fight against ASF necessary and adoption of a similar set of measures on the part of colleagues from neighboring countries - primarily from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland in the shortest possible time ; delay in formation buffer zone in this situation will lead to irreversible consequences and the rapid spread of infection throughout the European continent .

As one of the key factors in the spread of the causative agent are wild boar, very acute question of reducing their numbers. At the moment, the wild boar population in the Kaliningrad region exceeds 6500 individuals. During the discussions, there were different proposals regarding the size of their decline , including up to total destruction . At the moment, decided to reduce the population to 0.4-0.5 birds per 1 thousand . ha. In this connection it is necessary to stress once again the importance of European countries of similar work , because, for example , in the Baltic countries is many times the number of wild boar populations in the Kaliningrad region (in Lithuania last year the population reached 110,000 individuals .

Another issue requiring urgent attention , was the problem of the absence of the region of the recycling plant. Konstantin Suslov offered some possible solutions to this problem and alternatives for the organization of work for the near future .

The meeting also raised questions about the compartmentalization of companies in the region , the organization of their work based on the HACCP principles , and on the identification of food-producing animals in the region. So , under the circumstances , and given the timing of entry into force of technical regulations , special importance is increasing extent on Biosafety enterprises in the region . According to the veterinary service of the region , currently operates in the region of the fourth level of a single enterprise compartmentalization and four companies - first .