Belarus appears to be free of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported on April 13 after monitoring the situation for nearly two years.
The PRRS outbreak in Belaurs was first reported by the OIE in May 2013, when a farm with 40,058 pigs was infected. Of a total 3,260 cases, 2,458 pigs died after contracting the PRRS virus. The source of the outbreak was never determined, according to the OIE.
The affected animals were quarantined, and movement control within the country was enacted. The affected premises were disinfected.
After 31,483 animals were vaccinated, OIE continued to monitor the situation. After seeing no new cases of PRRS and no related pig deaths since its last report submitted one week following the outbreak, OIE determined nearly two years later that the case had been resolved and stated it will not submit any further reports on the outbreak.
Prior to the outbreak that occurred in 2013, the last reported case of PRRS in Belarus occurred in 2007.
Considered a highly contagious virus, PRRS infections can result in reproductive problems, such as premature births, late-term abortions and increased stillbirths, as well as lead to increased piglet mortality and reduced growth.
