Romania reports outbreak of African swine fever

Romania has reported an outbreak of African swine fever at a breeding farm for pigs (pigpen) in the southern county of Tulcea, the National Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) said on Monday.

It said all 44,580 pigs on the holding would be culled.

“Carcasses of pigs are being destroyed under official supervision, with support from the defence ministry which brought four mobile incinerators,’’ ANSVSA said.

In June, Romania reported an outbreak of African swine fever among backyard pigs in the same county.

African swine fever is a highly contagious disease that affects pigs and wild boar and has spread to Eastern Europe in recent years.

It does not affect humans.

Hungary, Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Romania are among the countries affected, alarming governments and pig farmers due to the pace at which it has spread.