KRASNODAR, October 5 (Itar-Tass) — Veterinary control has been tightened in Russia’s southern Krasnodar territory to prevent African swine fever outbreaks.
A resolution the regional Security Council passed at its Wednesday meeting authorizes local veterinary authorities, municipal and rural administration, the territorial agricultural department and police to make regular check of local farms, both state-run and private.
“It is necessary to ensure veterinary control of pigs in all, not only big, farms. Not a single animal is to be raised, sold and slaughtered without veterinary checks and relevant documents. If we seek to stop swine fever we must impose a tougher control system,” said the governor of the Krasnodar territory, Alexander Tkachev.
Swine fever is a highly contagious disease of pigs. Swine fever causes fever, skin lesions, convulsions and usually (particularly in young animals) death within 15 days. Since 2008, swine fever cases have been reported in 17 district of the Krasnodar territory, and in seven districts – since the beginning of 2011. Such cases were registered in ten settlements. About 50,000 pigs have been slaughtered since the beginning of the year to prevent the spread of the disease. More than 140 million roubles from the territorial budget were paid in compensation to farmers in 2011, the press service of the territorial administration told Itar-Tass.
The governor placed responsibility for the spread of the disease on farmers who often ignore veterinary rules and norms.