LATVIA, Riga. The Latvian Food and Veterinary Service received the results of the laboratory tests confirming that African swine fever (ASF) had been found also in Bunci farm in Salaspils region in central Latvia. About 10,000 pigs are kept in the farm and will have to be culled, writes LETA. This was reported by The Baltic Course.
The Latvian government on January 17 declared a state of emergency in the ASF-affected Krimulda region, as well as in the regions of Adazi and Salaspils which will last until April 17. The ASF outbreak started in Latvia in June 2014 not far from the border with Belarus.
African swine fever is an extremely dangerous and contagious virus infection affecting pigs. If an infected pig is found in a farm, all pigs in the particular farm have to be culled, which means big losses for farmers.