The Ukraine has had its first confirmed case of African swine fever (ASF). According to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the virus was found in a wild boar, not very far from the country’s northern border.
The Ukrainian ASF case was discovered when three dead wild boars were discovered on May 5 in territory of the state wildlife reserve. Testing was conducted at the State Scientific and Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnosis and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise on one of the three boar carcasses, which proved positive for ASF. The other two carcasses were in an advanced state of decomposition, so they were not tested, according to the OIE report.
Control measures implemented include quarantine, zoning, movement control within the country and control of wildlife reservoirs.
While this has been the first confirmed case of ASF in the Ukraine, numerous countries within the Baltic region and other parts of the world have reported cases of the disease. Other countries to be affected in recent months include: Russia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Cabo Verde.
OIE stated that it will continue to issue weekly reports on the ASF situation in the Ukraine until it is resolved.
