Number Of African Swine Fever Outbreaks In Romania Reaches 578

The number of African swine fever outbreaks has reached up to 578 in 98 localities in eight counties, the head of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), Geronimo Branescu, stated on Monday

Bucharest,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Aug, 2018 ) :The number of African swine fever outbreaks has reached up to 578 in 98 localities in eight counties, the head of the National Sanitary Veterinary and food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), Geronimo Branescu, stated on Monday.

'We have 578 outbreaks of African swine fever confirmed in eight counties and we are expecting the number to grow. However, the pandemic dynamics tended to moderate over the past few days, although the disease is quite versatile. We haven't been able to reach clear conclusions yet,' Branescu.

As many as 78,000 pigs from farms and households have been culled so far.

The eight counties are: Satu-Mare, Bihor, Salaj, Tulcea, Braila, Constanta, Ialomita and Galati.

The ministerial committee for emergency situation convened in the middle of last week to approve the additional action plan meant for combating the African swine fever.

In this context, the Ministry of Waters and Forests (MAP) approved the supplementation of the intervention quotas in wild boars, for the 2018-2019 hunting seasons, establishing the number of animals that can be hunted, at national level, at 27,914, according to the draft Order on the approval of measures for combating the African swine fever, on Monday published for public consultation.

Moreover, in the cases of Tulcea and Constanta, Insula Mare a Brailei and Balta Ialomitei, all the wild boards and predators will preventively be killed, according to the law; mixed teams of authorized hunters, alongside the forestry personnel, with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, will also shoot the wild boards and of specific predators along the border with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Hungary, according to the legal provisions in force; at the border checkpoints there will be installed disinfection filters, including disinfecting devices designed for the road transportation means.

Not last, at national level, with the help of the local and public authorities, at the entries and exits to and from the infected areas and the households having pigs individual disinfection devices will be installed not later than 5 days since the adoption of the current measures plan. The necessary substances for the individual disinfecting devices will be ensured by the local public authorities, with the corresponding funds to be ensured by the country councils from funds especially earmarked for the African swine fever.

The African swine fever outbreaks have been active in Romania since August 2017, but their number increased very much in June this year, after the first suspicions of African swine fever were confirmed in localities located on the Chilia arm of the Danube River.

According to the veterinary authorities, the African swine fever doesn't spread to humans, without even the slightest risk of people getting ill, but the disease has, instead, an impact at the social and economic level.