African swine fever detected in wild boars in some forests in Moldova

Chisinau, 8 December /MOLDPRES/ – The African swine fever (PPA) was also detected in wildlife. It affected wild boars and today there are officially registered some outbreaks: Orhei forestry enterprise, Vatici forest road, Orhei district, landowner Natsilva, district forest Zloti, Cimislia district, silva-cinegetic enterprise Manta-V, Cahul district, reports the National Agency for Food Safety’s (ANSA) information and media communication service has reported.

In accordance with government decision on hunting in season 2017 – 2018, wild boars harvested in hunt were subjected to lab tests for PPAs, with 52 samples being sampled and tested. These ones, harvested from wild boars hunted on 12 November 2017 and subjected to lab tests at republican centre for veterinary diagnosis, proved to be positive for three wild boars hunted in the designated forestry enterprises.

According to international requirements, these samples were submitted to Madrid lab for confirmation and identification of the viral genome, from where the results confirming the presence of PPA virus were received.

"Wild boars can be a means of spreading disease, as the animals cross long distances, easily penetrating the affected areas. An action plan is currently being drawn up to be coordinated with ANSA and executed so that the disease does not expand and the existing outbreaks are liquidated. We will follow how things develop and we try to redress the situation, otherwise the regulations indicate the depopulation of wild boars, which should be avoided," said Nicolae Munteanu.

As a result of situation, ANSA developed a comprehensive programme of measures aimed at disease counteracting. According to an order issued by the Agency, it is planned to temporarily restrict the movement (transport) of pigs and their products and by – products from the countries affected by swine fever, as well as the ban on the sale of pigs on the agricultural markets and animal fairs in Moldova.

The problem of African swine fever came to attention of Moldovan authorities, after three farms with infected pigs were identified in October 2017 in Palanca village, Stefan Voda district. On 30 November 2017, a new outbreak of PPA was notified in an individual household in Carpineni village, Hincesti district.

The African swine fever is a dangerous disease without treatment or vaccine currently affecting domestic and wild porcine species. The PPA virus is transmitted throughout direct contact between animals or indirectly by feeding off animals containing meat or by products from infected animals, insects fed from infected animals, or even utensils, clothing, contaminated feed. The PPA virus survives for 06 – 10 days in the feces of infected animals, up to 03 – 06 months in thermally untreated pig meat products and for many years in frozen pork. The mortality of infected animals is 100 per cent.

(Reporter L. Grubii, editor A. Raileanu)