An outbreak of African swine fever has been confirmed in a private household, with 20 animals, in Crihana Veche village, Cahul district. The pigs were slaughtered and buried. On the outskirts of Burlăceni village, the same district, there were found the carcasses of two pigs affected by the fever.

The National Food Safety Agency reports that in Crihana Veche village disinfection was carried out in the pen where the animals were kept, and a census of domestic pigs is conducted in the given localities in addition to wildlife control efforts. At the same time, the police are looking for the owners of the pigs found near Burlăceni village.

Vitalie Carauș, department head at the Agency, told IPN that five swine fever outbreaks are currently active in the country, four in Cahul district and one in Nisporeni district. According to him, the villages are located in the Prut lowlands, and with the harvest season in full swing, it is likely that crops have been the medium which carried the virus from the boar inhabiting the lowlands to the domestic hogs.

Vitalie Carauş says that on Thursday, August 1, an Emergency Situations Committee will assemble in Cahul to discuss the implementation of broader measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

If in a particular settlement pigs from three and more households become sick, all pigs in the village are slaughtered. If the virus is also spread in the neighboring districts, the Commission for emergency situations at the national level is convened, which takes decisions.

Vitalie Carauş also said that, as the Republic of Moldova is affected by the African swine fever, several countries have imposed restrictions on pork exports.

Earlier this week, 92 pigs were slaughtered in Roșu village, Cahul district, after the African swine fever was confirmed. Another outbreak was registered in Milești village, Nisporeni district, where a pig from a domestic household was affected. Last week, ten pigs were slaughtered in Manta village, Cahul district, after the African swine fever was confirmed. An outbreak is active in wild boars, in the border area of ​​Lipcani village, Briceni district.

The disease is not dangerous to humans, but it spreads quickly among pigs. If the virus is confirmed, the animals are slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease.