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According to Yevgeny Nepoklonov, 550 outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) were reported in Russia for the previous 6-7 years (from 2007) with 193 of them – in wild boars. Currently there is a threat of the disease spread to Europe and Asia which are so far free from ASF.
Now ASF tends to spread in several directions: through Belarus to the Baltic countries, Poland and Germany, as well as to free regions of Russia and through Ukraine and Romania to Austria, as well as through Kazakhstan to China. Much attention was given to ASF control measures (including to the already obvious results of activities of the ASF Operation Headquarters headed by the Vice-Minister and implementation of electronic traceability systems), as well as to the need for the use of positive experience of Spain and Portugal which had managed to cope with the similar problem.
Analyzing the reasons for such a rapid spread of ASF in Russia and inability to operatively block the threat, Yevgeny Nepoklonov mentioned, in particular, the lack of optimal centralized structure of veterinary service. During the period of Russia’s accession to the WTO the RF Veterinary Service was reformed for the purpose of maximum simplification of trade procedure, which immediately affected epidemic situation in the country. Adoption of Legal Act No.294 laying down that plant inspections should be performed once in three years also contributed to the situation.
Friday October 11, 2013/ Rosselkhoznadzor/ Russia.
http://www.fsvps.ru
