The National Food Safety Agency announced that the restrictions concerning the last three hotbeds of African swine fever, in Paicu and Zârnești villages of Cahul district and in the municipality of Cahul, were lifted, IPN reports.

Under the current regulations, the identified hotbeds are monitored during 24 months.

A number of 37 hotbeds of African swine fever were recorded in Moldova in the course of 2018. Of these, 27 involved domestic pigs. About 600 animals were killed.

The authorities said the risk of new outbreaks is rather high given that new hotbeds are reported in the neighboring states and that the virus circulates among wild boar populations.

The Agency calls on the owners of pigs to urgently inform the local authorities if the animals become sick or die or bodies of wild boars are detected.