HISTORY OF ASF SPREADING IN ROSTOV OBLAST IN 2009 - 2013 AND EXPERIENCE OF CONTROL THEREOF

Abstract

African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) penetrated Rostov Oblast from southern regions of Russian in 2009, the fact is supported by official letters of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance. During the reported period, 81 cases of ASF were recorded in 26 districts and 3 towns of Rostov Oblast, including 66 cases among pigs in farms, and 15 cases in wild boars. Introduction in 2010 and strict compliance with the system of total control yielded desired results: no secondary niduses of infection have been registered since late August that year. Subsequent cases of ASF in the Oblast were mostly attributed to the virus introduction from neighboring infected regions, with wild boars in some cases. Challenge to protect pig livestock against ASF and budget against losses will stay urgent for a long time on. African Swine Fever in Russia has long ago stepped beyond any individual region. The procedure developed in practice in Rostov Oblast makes it possible to control ASFV spreading across the region, is helpless against virus introduction from beyond the Oblast. To ensure protection against virus external intervention it is necessary to tighten supervision over import and interregional transport of live pigs and pig farming products without heat treatment. This is attainable in close cooperation and coordination between Federal and regional veterinary services, and internal affairs authorities only.