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African Swine Fever Spreads to Armenia

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has confirmed that African Swine Fever (ASF) has spread from Georgia into neighboring Armenia.

The concern is that the disease could become endemic in the region as it has in swine in sub-Saharan Africa and on the Italian island of Sardinia. If this were to happen, it would place a new population of infected animals in close proximity to the European Union, Russia and the Ukraine among other countries. The current infrastructure in the Caucasus region is reportedly inadequate to address the issues associated with surveillance and control of a major disease outbreak.

According to FAO veterinary expert Klaus Depner, "the drastic reduction of veterinarians in Georgia, lack of transport at all levels, insufficient surveillance and monitoring programmes, poor biosecurity and uncontrolled swill feeding are issues that need to be urgently addressed." FAO is planning to provide emergency technical assistance to Georgia and Armenia in order to accelerate rapid surveillance and to support the governments in implementing a national control strategy. FAO also aims to strengthen veterinary services through training and the provision of equipment. Public awareness campaigns are required to involve the public in disease control.

Source:
FAO Press Release, October 3, 2007