The outbreak in Nagļi this year is the eighth case African swine fever has been detected in a domestic pig holding. The disease has already affected domestic pigs in Gulbene, Madona, Krāslava, Jēkabpils, and now also in Rēzekne. 269 domestic pigs have been eliminated so far this year.
There are currently many cases of the disease in wild boar Kurzeme and East Vidzeme. In North Latgale, however, only 23 reports of dead wild boars have been reported this year. By comparison, there were 342 reports last year during that time period.
The number of hunted wild boar submitted to the North Latgale administration has also fallen sharply, from 2,016 wild boars last year to 369 this year.
PVD representative Mārīte Ņukša explained: "This year both the number of wild boars hunted and the number of dead wild boars found is very minimal – the wild boar population has been very reduced, so we are surprised why this disease has been introduced into the area and directly to domestic pigs. The disease still remains. Biosecurity needs to be adhered to very strongly, it doesn't mean people can relax. "
In Rezekne municipality, a quarantine zone is defined around the disease-affected holding within a 10-kilometer radius. “This means that there is increased monitoring in this area – inspectors are driving around shelters, looking at how biosecurity is being observed. Of course, it is prohibited to export both animals of the porcine species and any production of the porcine species,” said Ņukša.
The PVD quarantine will be cancelled after the owners have implemented the necessary cleaning and disinfection measures for the barn and the re-analysis will not show the presence of African swine fever.
