Case of swine fever in wild boars discovered in north Moldova district

Chisinau, 29 May /MOLDPRES/ - One case of swine fever has been discovered in the border zone of the Lipcani settlement, northern Briceni district, where six corpses of wild boars were found (a female and its cubs). The case was confirmed by the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA), after the Republican Centre of Veterinary Diagnosis, through laboratory tests, on 28 May had confirmed the presence of African swine fever virus (ASFV).      

The corpses were discovered by border police employees, who immediately informed the forest engineer and the Edinet territorial subdivision for food safety. Specialists collected samples needed for laboratory tests and the corpses were destroyed according to the procedures established.  

The Briceni-based commission for emergency situations, which held an urgent meeting, worked out and approved a plan of measures for combating and eradicating this hotbed, in line with the necessary legislation and norms.

More cases of swine fever in wild boars were recorded in this region both in Ukraine and in Romania in 2019.

In Moldova, the last case of ASFV was registered in domestic pigs in the village of Besghioz (Autonomous Territorial Unit Gagauz-Yeri) in March 2019, and was eradicated in mid-May.   

In the context of the appearance of the African swine fever virus, ANSA monitors the epizootic situation and reminds to owners of pigs not to feed animals with leftovers, not let them free and change clothes before entering animals’ shelters, as well as to observe the bio-security norms.  

The African swine fever is not dangerous for the man; yet, the disease is spreading quite quickly among the animals and causes serious material damages to agriculture. There is no vaccine against ASFV. The present vaccination of swine reduces the pressure of the virus, but does not lead to its disappearance. The pork coming from infected animals is not dangerous for people, but is not recommended for consumption.