Russia bans Belarusian sausage as swine fever discovered

Russia October 03, 2014, 16:39

African swine fever virus is not dangerous for people, but can be fatal for domestic and wild pigs

MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has banned a number of products imported from Belarusian state Orshansky meat-packing plant as African swine fever virus was discovered in its sausage meat earlier on Friday.

“In case of more swine fever virus discoveries, we may widen protective measures against Belorussian meat produce”, Russian watchdog said in a statement.

During a regular food safety monitoring the officials of Russian regional veterinary supervising department found and seized a batch of pork sausage, infected with the virus, at a wholesale store in Russia’s Bryansk region. The veterinary inspectors are now determining the channel of meat infection.

African swine fever virus is not dangerous for people, but can be fatal for domestic and wild pigs, as it spreads rapidly, and can seriously undermine the country’s agriculture and economy in general.

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