Outbreaks of African Swine Fever Registered in Artsakh

Two outbreaks of African Swine Fever have been identified in the Askeran region of the Republic of Artsakh. Radik Gevorgyan, head of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of the Artsakh Ministry of Agriculture, informed an Armenpress correspondent about this, detailing that 55 pigs, weighing approximately 2900 kg in total, have been found and destroyed in a sanitary manner.

“All community veterinarians are aware of the issue and are closely monitoring the situation to prevent the further spread of the disease should it appear,” emphasized Gevorgyan.

Regarding the causes of the infection, he stated that African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease that can be transmitted through contaminated feed, bites from infected ticks, direct contact with infected pigs, biting flies, as well as through tissues, blood, urine, and feces of infected pigs, and contaminated items (shoes, clothing, equipment, vehicles, feed).

According to the source from the news outlet, to prevent the spread of the disease, public awareness is being conducted by specialists, movement of pigs is restricted, and farmers are advised to avoid keeping pigs in open areas to prevent contact with garbage and stray or wild pigs.