African swine fever hits Latvian farms again

African swine fever, which in recent months had only been spreading in Latvia's wild boar population, is hitting domestic pigs again as the deadly animal disease has been found on two farms in less than a month, the Latvian veterinary authority said Monday.

The latest cases of African swine fever in domestic pigs have been reported in the municipality of Stradi in the eastern Latvian district of Gulbene. All 142 pigs on the affected farm will have to be put down, the Food and Veterinary Service said.

Measures are being taken on the farm to stem the outbreak, and an epidemiological investigation has been launched to establish how the infection found its way into the farm.

A 3 km quarantine zone and a 10 km monitoring area have been set around the farm to monitor the health of domestic pigs and wild boar, as well as traffic in the area. Special attention will be paid to the transportation of animals and meat products in this territory.

At the end of July, the disease was found on a farm in the southeastern Latvian municipality of Varkava. This was the first time since September 2015 that the infection was reported in domestic pigs again.

As the African swine fever continues to spread in the wild boar population, nearing the western Latvian region of Kurzeme, which so far has remained unaffected, the deadly infection has been reported in 695 wild boars in 62 Latvia's districts and two towns already.

The first cases of African swine fever in Latvia were reported in June 2014 when the infection was confirmed in three wild boars that had been found dead near the Belarusian border. Enditem