2009/10/23

FAO concerned as pig disease jumps from southern Russia to the Baltic

The deadly pig disease African Swine Fever (ASF) has jumped 2,000 kilometres from southern Russia to St Petersburg in north-western Russia.

The latest outbreak was found near the Baltic city on October 20 confirming the worst fears of FAO experts who have been tracking the virus in Georgia and neighbouring countries for several years.

The danger is that ASF - which can not be transmitted to humans - could spread to other regions including the European Union countries, Eastern Europe, the Black Sea basin countries and - in the worst case scenario – central Asia and even China, which has the largest pig population in the world.

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