A backyard pig that was slaughtered in Chuguyiv, Ukraine, tested positive for the presence of anthrax.
The State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine, in a report submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), stated that the pig’s owner had notified a veterinary officer that while he was slaughtering the pig three days earlier, he noticed the animal had an enlarged spleen.
Samples were taken from products from the animal, which tested positive for the presence of anthrax. No other animals were reported by the OIE as susceptible to anthrax.
All people that had contact with products from the infected pig were evaluated by a physician, according to an April 6 report from the OIE, and none of those people were found to be infected. All of the products from the infected animal have since been destroyed.
The incident marks the first time anthrax has been detected in the Ukraine since 2012, and the source of the latest infection remains uncertain.
Control measures used include movement control inside the country, vaccination, disinfection, quarantine and surveillance outside the protection zone.
OIE stated that it will submit weekly updates on the Ukrainian anthrax situation until it considers it to be resolved.
The Ukrainian pig industry has also dealt with concerns of African swine fever (ASF) in recent weeks. The disease was found in a small backyard herd in Kirovograd, affecting 29 animals.
